Romans 15:1-21 ▼

1 Now we who are strong ought to be patient with the weaknesses of those who are not strong and must stop pleasing ourselves.

2 Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building him up.

3 For even the Messiah did not please himself. Instead, as it is written, |The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.|

4 For everything that was written long ago was written to instruct us, so that we might have hope through the endurance and encouragement that the Scriptures give us.

5 Now may God, the source of endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other as you follow the Messiah Jesus,

6 so that with one mind and one voice you might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.

7 Therefore, accept one another, just as the Messiah accepted you, for the glory of God.

8 For I tell you that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth in order to confirm the promises given to our ancestors,

9 so that the gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, |That is why I will praise you among the gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.|

10 Again he says, |Rejoice, you gentiles, with his people!|

11 And again, |Praise the Lord, all you gentiles! Let all the nations praise him.|

12 And again, Isaiah says, |There will be a Root from Jesse. He will rise up to rule the gentiles, and the gentiles will hope in him.|

13 Now may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are filled with goodness and full of all the knowledge you need to be able to instruct each other.

15 However, on some points I have written to you rather boldly, both as a reminder to you and because of the grace given me by God

16 to be a minister of the Messiah Jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering brought by gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore, in the Messiah Jesus I have the right to boast about my work for God.

18 For I am bold enough to tell you only about what the Messiah has accomplished through me in bringing gentiles to obedience. By my words and actions,

19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God's Spirit, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of the Messiah from Jerusalem as far as Illyricum.

20 My one ambition is to proclaim the gospel where the name of the Messiah is not known, so I don't build on someone else's foundation.

21 Rather, as it is written, |Those who were never told about him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.|