- 1
- We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
- 2
- Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
- 3
- For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
- 4
- For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
- 5
- Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,
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- that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 7
- Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
- 8
- Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
- 9
- and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name.”
- 10
- And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
- 11
- And again: “Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”
- 12
- And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
- 13
- Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- 14
- Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
- 15
- Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,
- 16
- that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
- 17
- Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.
- 18
- For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient –
- 19
- in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
- 20
- And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,
- 21
- but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand.”
- 22
- For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.
- 23
- But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you,
- 24
- whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
- 25
- But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
- 26
- For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
- 27
- It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.
- 28
- Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain.
- 29
- But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
- 30
- Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
- 31
- that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
- 32
- that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
- 33
- Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
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