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The Example of Christ

^1 (a)We who are strong ^(b)have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^2 (c)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³ For ^(d)Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ^(e)"The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." ⁴ For ^(f)whatever was written in former days was written for our ^(g)instruction, that through endurance and through ^(h)the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you ⁽ⁱ⁾to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify ^(j)the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

⁸ For I tell you that Christ ^(k)became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order ^(l)to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and in order ^(m)that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

¹⁰ And again it is said,

¹¹ And again,

¹² And again Isaiah says,

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all ^(t)joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

^14 (u)I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,^[a] that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with ^(v)all knowledge and able to instruct one another. ¹⁵ But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, ^(w)because of the grace given me by God ¹⁶ to be ^(x)a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles ^(y)in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that ^(z)the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ In Christ Jesus, then, I have ^(aa)reason to be proud of ^(ab)my work for God. ¹⁸ For I will not venture to speak of anything except ^(ac)what Christ has accomplished through me ^(ad)to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, ^19 (ae)by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that ^(af)from Jerusalem and all the way around ^(ag)to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; ²⁰ and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, ^(ah)lest I build on someone else's foundation, ²¹ but as it is written,

Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

²² This is the reason why ^(aj)I have so often been hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and ^(ak)since I have longed for many years to come to you, ²⁴ I hope to see you in passing as I go ^(al)to Spain, and ^(am)to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵ At present, however, ^(an)I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. ²⁶ For ^(ao)Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. ²⁷ For they were pleased to do it, and indeed ^(ap)they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. ²⁸ When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,^[b] I will leave ^(aq)for Spain by way of you. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing^[c] of Christ.

³⁰ I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by ^(ar)the love of the Spirit, ^(as)to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, ^31 (at)that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that ^(au)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and ^(av)be refreshed in your company. ³³ May ^(aw)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.