Carrying one another
1We who are strong ought to carry the weaknesses of those who are not, instead of pleasing ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor, for the neighbor’s good, to build him up. 3For even the Christ did not please himself; as it stands written: “The insults of those who insult you fell on me.” 4Whatever was written before was written to teach us, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might keep our hope. 5May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same mind among yourselves, in line with Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7So welcome one another, just as the Christ welcomed you, to the glory of God. 8For I tell you that the Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to make good the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it stands written: “For this I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.” 10And again it says: “Rejoice, you Gentiles, along with his people.” 11And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples sing his praise.” 12And again Isaiah says: “The root of Jesse will come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will put their hope.” 13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s work and his plans
14My brothers and sisters, I am convinced about you myself: you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to set one another straight. 15Still, I have written to you here and there rather boldly, to jog your memory, because of the grace God gave me 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving the gospel of God as a priest, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be welcome, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17So in Christ Jesus I have something to boast of in what belongs to God. 18I will not dare to speak of anything except what the Christ has done through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience, by word and by deed, 19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum I have completed the gospel of the Christ. 20My ambition has always been to announce the gospel where Christ had not yet been named, so as not to build on someone else’s foundation, 21but as it stands written: “Those who were never told about him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” 22That is why I have so often been kept from coming to you. 23But now there is no more room for me in these regions, and for many years I have been longing to come to you 24on my way to Spain. I hope to see you as I pass through, and to be sent on my way there by you, once I have first had my fill of your company.
The collection for Jerusalem
25At the moment, though, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints. 26Macedonia and Achaia were glad to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27They were glad to do it, and they are in their debt. If the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they owe it to them to serve them with material ones. 28So when I have finished this and have handed over that harvest under seal, I will set out for Spain by way of you. 29And I know that when I come to you, I will come with the full blessing of Christ. 30I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit: join the struggle with me, praying to God on my behalf, 31that I may be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be welcome to the saints, 32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and find rest among you. 33The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
