Romans 15

We who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not to please ourselves.

Each of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, The insults of those who insult you fell on me.

For whatever was written previously was written to teach us, that through perseverance and through the encouragement of the scriptures we would have hope.

Now may the God of perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

so that in one accord you can, with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the sake of the truth of God, in order to confirm the promises made to the Fathers,

but also become a servant with respect to the Gentiles for the sake of mercy in order to glorify God, as it is written, Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.

And again he says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, along with his people.

And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! And all the People should heap praise on him!

And again, Isaiah says, The root from Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you continue to believe, so that you abound in hope by the power of holy spirit.

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

Nevertheless, I have written quite boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again. I did this because of the grace that was given to me by God

to be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the good news of God like a priest, in order that my offering, namely, the Gentiles, be acceptable, having been made holy by the holy spirit.

In Christ Jesus, then, I have a reason for boasting in these things pertaining to God.

For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ accomplished through me—resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles—by word and deed,

by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of holy spirit, so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ.

And in this way I make it my aim to proclaim the good news where Christ has not already been named, so that I will not be building on someone else’s foundation,

but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.

That is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.

But now I no longer have any place to evangelize in these regions, and I have had a longing to come to you for many years.

Indeed, when I travel to Spain, I am hoping to see you while I am traveling through, and to be brought on my way there by you once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.

But now I am traveling to Jerusalem to serve the holy ones.

For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the holy ones who are at Jerusalem.

Indeed, they were pleased to do this, and they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they also have an obligation to minister to them in material things.

Therefore, when I have accomplished this, and have myself made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go on to Spain by way of you.

But I know that when I come to you, I will come with a full measure of the blessing of Christ.

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the spirit, that you struggle together with me by your prayers to God for me

so that I will be rescued from those who are defiant in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem is acceptable to the holy ones,

so that by the will of God I can come to you with joy, and find refreshing rest together with you.

Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.