Rom 15 | HCSB | STEP | Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength , and not to please ourselves .

‏ Romans 15

Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves

1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, ^a and not to please ourselves. 2 Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ^b 3 For even the ^{▼▼Messiah: Or the Christ; the Greek word Christos means "the anointed one".}Messiah did not please Himself. ^d On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me. ^{e
,} ^f 4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, ^g so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. 5 Now may the God who gives ^{▼▼Lit God of} endurance and encouragement ⁱ allow you to live in harmony with one another, ^j according to the command of Christ Jesus, 6 so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ^k with a united mind and voice.

Glorifying God Together

7 Therefore accept one another, ^l just as the Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God. 8 For I say that the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised ^{▼▼The Jews} on behalf of God’s truth, ⁿ to confirm the promises to the fathers, ^o 9 and so that Gentiles ^p may glorify God for His mercy. ^q As it is written:

Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles,
and I will sing psalms to Your name. ^{r
,} ^s

10 Again it says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people! ^{t
,} ^u 11 And again:

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
all the peoples should praise Him! ^{v
,} ^w

12 And again, Isaiah says:

The root of Jesse ^x will appear,
the One who rises to rule the Gentiles;
the Gentiles will hope in Him. ^{y
,} ^z

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him ^aa so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ^ab

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

14 My ^{▼▼brother(s): The Greek word adelphoi can be used as a reference to males only or to groups that include males and females. It is the context of each usage that determines the proper meaning.}brothers, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, ^ad filled with all knowledge, ^ae and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points ^{▼▼Other mss add brothers} because of the grace given me by God ^ag 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ^ah serving as a priest of God’s good news. ^ai My purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, ^aj ^{▼▼saint(s)/sanctification/sanctify/sanctified: The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.}sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus ^al regarding what pertains to God. ^am 18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me ^an to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, ^ao and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good news about the Messiah from Jerusalem ^ap all the way around to Illyricum. ^{▼▼A Roman province northwest of Greece on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea
,} ^ar 20 My aim is to evangelize where Christ has not been named, ^as so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, ^at 21 but, as it is written:

Those who were not told about Him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand. ^{au
,} ^av

Paul’s Travel Plans

22 That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you. ^aw 23 But now I no longer have any work to do in these provinces, ^{▼▼Lit now, having no longer a place in these parts} and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you ^ay 24 whenever I travel to Spain. ^{▼▼Other mss add I will come to you.} For I hope to see you when I pass through, and to be assisted by you for my journey there, ^ba once I have first enjoyed your company ^bb for a while. 25 Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem ^bc to serve the ^{▼▼saint(s)/sanctification/sanctify/sanctified: The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.}saints, ^be 26 for Macedonia ^bf and Achaia ^{▼▼The churches of these provinces
,} ^bh were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, ^bi then they are obligated to minister to Jews in material needs. 28 So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds ^{▼▼Lit delivered this fruit} to them, ^bk I will visit you on the way to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing ^{▼▼Other mss add of the gospel} of Christ.

30 Now I appeal to you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, ^bm to join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf. ^bn 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, ^bo that the gift I am bringing to ^{▼▼Lit that my service for} Jerusalem ^bq may be acceptable to the saints, ^br 32 and that, by God’s will, ^bs I may come to you with joy ^bt and be refreshed together with you.

33 The God of peace be with all of you. ^bu ^{▼▼Amen: The transliteration of a Hebrew word signifying that something is certain, valid, truthful, or faithful; it is often used at the end of biblical songs, hymns, and prayers.}Amen.