Romans 15 (New American Standard)

Self-denial on Behalf of Others

1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of ¹those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to ²please his neighbor ^afor his good, to his ³edification. 3 For even ⁴Christ did not please Himself ; but as it is written, "⁵THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME." 4 For ⁶whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the ⁷God ^bwho gives perseverance and encouragement grant you ⁸to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one ^cvoice glorify ⁹the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, ¹⁰accept one another, just as Christ also accepted ^dus to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to ¹¹the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm ¹²the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for ¹³the Gentiles to ¹⁴glorify God for His mercy ; as it is written, "¹⁵THEREFORE I WILL ^eGIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME." 10 Again he says, "¹⁶REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE." 11 And again, "¹⁷PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM." 12 Again Isaiah says, "¹⁸THERE SHALL COME ¹⁹THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, ²⁰IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE." 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all ²¹joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope ²²by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of ²³goodness, filled with ²⁴all knowledge and 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 ²⁵the grace that was given me ^ffrom God, 16 to be ²⁶a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the ²⁷gospel of God, so that my ²⁸offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found ²⁹reason for boasting in ³⁰things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything ^gexcept what ³¹Christ has accomplished through me, ^hresulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of ⁱ³²signs and wonders, ³³in the power of the Spirit ; so that ³⁴from Jerusalem and round about as ³⁵far as Illyricum I have ^jfully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And thus I aspired to ³⁶preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, ³⁷so that I would not build on another man's foundation ; 21 but as it is written, "³⁸THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND." 22 For this reason ³⁹I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I ⁴⁰have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I ⁴¹go to Spain -for I hope to see you in passing, and to be ⁴²helped on my way there by you, when I have first ⁴³enjoyed your company ^kfor a while - 25 but now, ⁴⁴I am going to Jerusalem ⁴⁵serving the ^lsaints. 26 For ⁴⁶Macedonia and ⁴⁷Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the ^msaints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For ⁴⁸if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and ⁴⁹have ⁿput my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will ⁵⁰go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when ⁵¹I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 30 Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by ⁵²the love of the Spirit, to ⁵³strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be ⁵⁴rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my ⁵⁵service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the ^o56saints ; 32 so that ⁵⁷I may come to you in joy by ⁵⁸the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now ⁵⁹the God of peace be with you all. Amen.