Romans 15 - 16
Bearing the Weaknesses of Others
15Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of athose without strength and not just please ourselves. 2Each of us is to aplease his neighbor 1for his good, to his bbuilding up. 3For even aChrist did not please Himself; but as it is written, “bThe reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4For 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. 5Now may the aGod of perseverance and encouragement grant you bto be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6so 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
7Therefore, aaccept one another, just as Christ also accepted 1us to the glory of God. 8For 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, 9and 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.”
10And again he says, “aRejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
12And 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.”
13Now 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
14But 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. 15But 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 16for 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. 17Therefore in Christ Jesus I have areason for boasting in bthings pertaining to God. 18For 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, 19in the power of 1,asigns 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. 20And 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; 21but as it is written, “aThey who had no declaration of Him shall see,And they who have not heard shall understand.”
22For this reason aI have often been prevented from coming to you; 23but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I ahave had for many years a longing to come to you 24whenever 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. 25But now aI am going to Jerusalem to bserve the 1saints. 26For aMacedonia and bAchaia were pleased to 1share with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27Yes, 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. 28Therefore, 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. 29And I know that when aI come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30Now 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, 31that I may be arescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my bservice for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the 1,csaints; 32so that aI may come to you in joy by bthe will of God and find rest in your company. 33Now may athe God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Final Instructions and Greetings
16Now I acommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a 1servant of the church which is at bCenchrea; 2that you areceive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the 1,bsaints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a benefactor of many, 2and of myself as well.
3Greet aPrisca and Aquila, my fellow workers bin cChrist Jesus, 4who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5also greet athe church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the bfirst convert to Christ from 1,cAsia. 6Greet Mary, who has labored much for you. 7Greet Andronicus and 1Junia, my akinsmen and my bfellow prisoners, who are outstanding to the apostles, who also 2were cin Christ before me. 8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker ain Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10Greet Apelles, the approved ain Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my akinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. 13Greet aRufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all athe 1saints who are with them. 16aGreet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. 17Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and stumblings acontrary to the teaching which you learned, and bturn away from them. 18For such men are aslaves, not of our Lord Christ but of btheir own 1stomach, and by their csmooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19For the report of your obedience ahas reached to all. Therefore I am rejoicing over you, but bI want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20aAnd the God of peace will soon crush bSatan under your feet. cThe grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
22I, Tertius, who awrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23aGaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. bErastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. 241[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]
25aNow to Him who is able to strengthen you baccording to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of cthe mystery which has been kept secret for dlong ages past, 26but now is manifested, and by athe Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the Gentiles, leading to bobedience of faith; 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, abe the glory forever. Amen.