﻿Romans.
Chapter 15.
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not to please ourselves. 
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 
For even Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you fell on me.” 
For everything written beforehand was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 
May the God of perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind toward one another according to Christ Jesus, 
so that together with one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God. 
For I say that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers, 
and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing to your name.” 
And again it says, “Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people.” 
And again, “Praise the Lord, all you nations, and let all the peoples praise him.” 
And again Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, the one who rises to rule the nations; in him the nations will hope.” 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
I myself am convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another. 
But I have written to you more boldly on some points, to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God 
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, performing priestly service for the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 
Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus in matters pertaining to God. 
For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience, by word and deed, 
by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem and the surrounding regions as far as Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 
And I have made it my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I would not build on someone else’s foundation, 
but as it is written, “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” 
This is why I have so often been prevented from coming to you. 
But now I no longer have a field of work in these regions, and for many years I have longed to come to you. 
For when I go to Spain, I hope to see you as I pass through and to be helped on my way there by you, after first enjoying your company for a while. 
But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints. 
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 
They were pleased to do so, and indeed they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they also ought to serve them with material things. 
So when I have completed this and duly delivered this fruit to them, I will go to Spain by way of you. 
And I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 
Now I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf, 
so that I may be rescued from the disobedient in Judea, and my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 
so that I may come to you with joy by God’s will and be refreshed together with you. 
May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. 
