Romans 15

1We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.

2Each of us should please our neighbor for their good, to build them up.

3For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to be of one mind with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus,

6so that together, with one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, for the glory of God.

8For I tell you that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

9and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name.”

10And again it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

11And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.”

12And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

15But I have written to you quite boldly on some points, to remind you again, because of the grace given to me by God

16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17So in Christ Jesus I have reason to boast in my service to God.

18For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience, by word and deed,

19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

20And so I have made it my ambition to proclaim the good news where Christ has not been named, so that I would not build on someone else’s foundation,

21but as it is written, “Those who were never told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

22This is why I have so often been prevented from coming to you.

23But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you,

24I hope to see you when I go to Spain, as I pass through, and to be sent on my way there by you, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.

25But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints.

26For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they are in their debt. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they owe it to them to serve them also with material blessings.

28So when I have completed this and have safely delivered this fruit to them, I will set out by way of you to Spain.

29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

30I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me,

31that I may be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.

33May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.