The Example of Christ

15 sWe who are strong thave an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 uLet each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For vChrist did not please himself, but as it is written, w“The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For xwhatever was written in former days was written for our yinstruction, that through endurance and through zthe encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you ato live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify bthe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

8 For I tell you that Christ cbecame a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order dto confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order ethat the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

f“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,

and sing to your name.”

10 And again it is said,

g“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

h“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again Isaiah says,

ij“The root of Jesse will come,

even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

kin him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all ljoy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

14 mI myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,1 that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with nall knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, obecause of the grace given me by God 16 to be pa minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles qin the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that rthe offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have sreason to be proud of tmy work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except uwhat Christ has accomplished through me vto bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 wby the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that xfrom Jerusalem and all the way around yto Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, zlest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,

a“Those who have never been told of him will see,

and those who have never heard will understand.”

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

22 This is the reason why bI have so often been hindered from coming to you.