CHAPTER 15

Bearing the Weaknesses of Others

1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of athose without strength and not just please ourselves.

2 Each of us is to aplease his neighbor 1for his good, to his bbuilding up.

3 For even aChrist did not please Himself; but as it is written, “bThe reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

4 For awhatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5 Now may the aGod of perseverance and encouragement grant you bto be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

6 so that with one accord you may with one 1voice glorify athe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ, the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

7 Therefore, aaccept one another, just as Christ also accepted 1us to the glory of God.

8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to athe circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm bthe promises given to the fathers,

9 and for athe Gentiles to bglorify God for His mercy; as it is written,

“cTherefore I will 1give praise to You among the Gentiles,

And I will sing to Your name.”

10 And again he says,

“aRejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”

11 And again,

“aPraise the 1Lord all you Gentiles,

And let all the peoples praise Him.”

12 And again Isaiah says,

“aThere shall come bthe root of Jesse,

And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles,

cIn Him shall the Gentiles hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all ajoy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope bby the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s Ministry Plans

14 But I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of agoodness, having been filled with ball knowledge and being able also to admonish one another.

15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of athe grace that was given me 1by God

16 for me to be aa minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the bgospel of God, so that my coffering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have areason for boasting in bthings pertaining to God.

18 For I will not be bold to speak of anything 1except what aChrist has brought about through me, 2leading to the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,

19 in the power of 1asigns and wonders, bin the power of the Spirit; so that cfrom Jerusalem and all around as dfar as Illyricum I have 2fully preached the gospel of Christ.

20 And in this way I make it my ambition to aproclaim the gospel, not where Christ was already named, bso that I would not build on another man’s foundation;

21 but as it is written,

“aThey who had no declaration of Him shall see,

And they who have not heard shall understand.”

22 For this reason aI have often been prevented from coming to you;

23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I ahave had for many years a longing to come to you

24 whenever I ago to Spain—for I hope, passing through, to see you, and to be bhelped on my way there by you, when I have first cenjoyed your company 1for a while.

25 But now aI am going to Jerusalem to bserve the 1saints.

26 For aMacedonia and bAchaia were pleased to 1share with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For aif the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.

28 Therefore, when I have completed this and ahave 1put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will bgo on by way of you to Spain.

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

30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by athe love of the Spirit, to bstrive together with me in your prayers to God for me,

31 that I may be arescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my bservice for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the 1csaints;

32 so that aI may come to you in joy by bthe will of God and find rest in your company.

33 Now may athe God of peace be with you all. Amen.