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Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves

¹ Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength,^(C1) and not to please ourselves. ² Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.^{(C1) 3} For even Christ did not please himself.^(C1) On the contrary, as it is written, The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.^{(F1)(C2) 4} For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction,^(C1) so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. ⁵ Now may the God who gives^(F1) endurance and encouragement^(C1) grant you to live in harmony with one another,^(C2) according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ^(C1) with one mind and one voice.

Glorifying God Together

⁷ Therefore accept one another,^(C1) just as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God. ⁸ For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised^(F1) on behalf of God’s truth,^(C1) to confirm the promises to the fathers,^{(C2) 9} and so that Gentiles^(C1) may glorify God for his mercy.^(C2) As it is written,

¹⁰ Again it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people!^{(F1)(C1) 11} And again,

¹² And again, Isaiah says,

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe^(C1) so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.^(C2)

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

¹⁴ My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness,^(C1) filled with all knowledge,^(C2) and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points^(F1) because of the grace given me by God^{(C1) 16} to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles,^(C1) serving as a priest of the gospel of God.^(C2) My purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering,^(C3) sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus^(C1) regarding what pertains to God.^{(C2) 18} For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me^(C1) by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, ¹⁹ by the power of miraculous signs and wonders,^(C1) and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem^(C2) all the way around to Illyricum.^{(F1)(C3) 20} My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named,^(C1) so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,^{(C2) 21} but, as it is written,

Paul’s Travel Plans

²² That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.^{(C1) 23} But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions,^(F1) and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you^{(C1) 24} whenever I travel to Spain.^(F1) For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there,^(C1) once I have first enjoyed your company^(C2) for a while. ²⁵ Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem^(C1) to serve the saints,^{(C2) 26} because Macedonia^(C1) and Achaia^(C2) 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,^(C1) then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs. ²⁸ So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds^(F1) to them,^(F2)(C1) 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^(F1) of Christ.

³⁰ Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit,^(C1) to strive together with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf.^{(C2) 31} Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea,^(C1) that my ministry to^(F1) Jerusalem^(C2) may be acceptable to the saints,^{(C3) 32} and that, by God’s will,^(C1) I may come to you with joy^(C2) and be refreshed together with you.

³³ May the God of peace be with all of you.^(C1) Amen.