Self-denial on Behalf of Others
15 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of (A)those without strength and not just please ourselves. 2 Each of us is to (B)please his neighbor [a]for his good, to his (C)edification. 3 For even (D)Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “(E)The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For (F)whatever 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 (G)God [b]who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you (H)to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one [c]voice glorify (I)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore, (J)accept one another, just as Christ also accepted [d]us to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to (K)the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm (L)the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for (M)the Gentiles to (N)glorify God for His mercy; as it is written,
“(O)Therefore I will [e]give praise to You among the Gentiles,
And I will sing to Your name.”
10 Again he says,
“(P)Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”
11 And again,
“(Q)Praise the Lord all you Gentiles,
And let all the peoples praise Him.”
12 Again Isaiah says,
“(R)There shall come (S)the root of Jesse,
And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles,
(T)In Him shall the Gentiles hope.”
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all (U)joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope (V)by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of (W)goodness, filled with (X)all 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 (Y)the grace that was given me [f]from God, 16 to be (Z)a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the (AA)gospel of God, so that my (AB)offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found (AC)reason for boasting in (AD)things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything [g]except what (AE)Christ has accomplished through me, [h]resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of [i](AF)signs and wonders, (AG)in the power of the Spirit; so that (AH)from Jerusalem and round about as (AI)far as Illyricum I have [j]fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And thus I aspired to (AJ)preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, (AK)so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written,
“(AL)They who had no news of Him shall see,
And they who have not heard shall understand.”
22 For this reason (AM)I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I (AN)have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I (AO)go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be (AP)helped on my way there by you, when I have first (AQ)enjoyed your company [k]for a while— 25 but now, (AR)I am going to Jerusalem (AS)serving the [l]saints. 26 For (AT)Macedonia and (AU)Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the [m]saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For (AV)if 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 (AW)have [n]put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will (AX)go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when (AY)I 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 (AZ)the love of the Spirit, to (BA)strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be (BB)rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my (BC)service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the [o](BD)saints; 32 so that (BE)I may come to you in joy by (BF)the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. 33 Now (BG)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 15:2 Lit for what is good to edification
- Romans 15:5 Lit of perseverance
- Romans 15:6 Lit mouth
- Romans 15:7 One early ms reads you
- Romans 15:9 Or confess
- Romans 15:15 One early ms reads by God
- Romans 15:18 Lit which Christ has not accomplished
- Romans 15:18 Lit to the obedience
- Romans 15:19 Or attesting miracles
- Romans 15:19 Lit fulfilled
- Romans 15:24 Lit in part
- Romans 15:25 Or holy ones
- Romans 15:26 V 25, note 1
- Romans 15:28 Lit sealed to them this fruit
- Romans 15:31 V 25, note 1
Cross references
- Romans 15:1 : Rom 14:1; Gal 6:2; 1 Thess 5:14
- Romans 15:2 : 1 Cor 9:22; 10:24, 33; 2 Cor 13:9
- Romans 15:2 : Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 10:23; 14:3f, 26; 2 Cor 12:19; Eph 4:12, 29
- Romans 15:3 : 2 Cor 8:9
- Romans 15:3 : Ps 69:9
- Romans 15:4 : Rom 4:23f; 2 Tim 3:16
- Romans 15:5 : 2 Cor 1:3
- Romans 15:5 : Rom 12:16
- Romans 15:6 : Rev 1:6
- Romans 15:7 : Rom 14:1
- Romans 15:8 : Matt 15:24; Acts 3:26
- Romans 15:8 : Rom 4:16; 2 Cor 1:20
- Romans 15:9 : Rom 3:29; 11:30f
- Romans 15:9 : Matt 9:8
- Romans 15:9 : 2 Sam 22:50; Ps 18:49
- Romans 15:10 : Deut 32:43
- Romans 15:11 : Ps 117:1
- Romans 15:12 : Is 11:10
- Romans 15:12 : Rev 5:5; 22:16
- Romans 15:12 : Matt 12:21
- Romans 15:13 : Rom 14:17
- Romans 15:13 : Rom 15:19; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Thess 1:5
- Romans 15:14 : Eph 5:9; 2 Thess 1:11
- Romans 15:14 : 1 Cor 1:5; 8:1, 7, 10; 12:8; 13:2
- Romans 15:15 : Rom 12:3
- Romans 15:16 : Acts 9:15; Rom 11:13
- Romans 15:16 : Rom 1:1; 15:19, 20
- Romans 15:16 : Rom 12:1; Eph 5:2; Phil 2:17
- Romans 15:17 : Phil 3:3
- Romans 15:17 : Heb 2:17; 5:1
- Romans 15:18 : Acts 15:12; 21:19; Rom 1:5; 2 Cor 3:5
- Romans 15:19 : John 4:48
- Romans 15:19 : Rom 15:13; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Thess 1:5
- Romans 15:19 : Acts 22:17-21
- Romans 15:19 : Acts 20:1f
- Romans 15:20 : Rom 1:15; 10:15; 15:16
- Romans 15:20 : 1 Cor 3:10; 2 Cor 10:15f
- Romans 15:21 : Is 52:15
- Romans 15:22 : Rom 1:13; 1 Thess 2:18
- Romans 15:23 : Acts 19:21; Rom 1:10f; 15:29, 32
- Romans 15:24 : Rom 15:28
- Romans 15:24 : Acts 15:3
- Romans 15:24 : Rom 1:12
- Romans 15:25 : Acts 19:21
- Romans 15:25 : Acts 24:17
- Romans 15:26 : Acts 16:9; 1 Cor 16:5; 2 Cor 1:16; 2:13; 7:5; 8:1; 9:2, 4; 11:9; Phil 4:15; 1 Thess 1:7f; 4:10; 1 Tim 1:3
- Romans 15:26 : Acts 18:12; 19:21
- Romans 15:27 : 1 Cor 9:11
- Romans 15:28 : John 3:33
- Romans 15:28 : Rom 15:24
- Romans 15:29 : Acts 19:21; Rom 1:10f; 15:23, 32
- Romans 15:30 : Gal 5:22; Col 1:8
- Romans 15:30 : 2 Cor 1:11; Col 4:12
- Romans 15:31 : 2 Cor 1:10; 2 Thess 3:2; 2 Tim 3:11; 4:17
- Romans 15:31 : Rom 15:25f; 2 Cor 8:4; 9:1
- Romans 15:31 : Acts 9:13, 15
- Romans 15:32 : Rom 15:23
- Romans 15:32 : Acts 18:21; Rom 1:10
- Romans 15:33 : Rom 16:20; 2 Cor 13:11; Phil 4:9; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 3:16; Heb 13:20