1Now we who are strong should bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not {just} please ourselves. 2Let each one of us please our neighbor for what is good, to be edifying to him. 3Even Christ did not please himself. But, as it is written, “The insults of those who insulted you fell on me.”1709 4For whatever things were written before were written for our instruction, so that through patience and the Scriptures’ encouragement1710 we might have hope. 5Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to be together of the same mind according to Christ Jesus, 6so that with one accord, you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Therefore, accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you,1711 to the glory of God. 8Now I say that Christ Jesus was made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, so that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9and so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
Therefore, I will give you praise among the Gentiles, O Lord,
And sing to your Name.1712
10Again he says:
Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.1713
11Again:
Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Let all the peoples praise him.1714
12Again, Isaias says:
There will be the root of Jesse,
He who arises to rule over the Gentiles;
In him the Gentiles will hope.1715
13Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s ministry and plans
14I myself am also convinced about you, my brethren, that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to instruct one another. 15But brethren, I write all the more boldly to you, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God, 16that I should be a servant of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. I should serve as a priest the Good News of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.1716 17I have my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God 18because I will not dare to speak of anything except of what Christ has worked through me. This is for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit.1717 And so, from Jerusalem, and as far as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ. 20Yes, I have made it my goal to preach the Good News where Christ was not already called upon, in order not to build on someone else’s foundation. 21But, as it is written:
Those who had no tidings of him will see.
Those who have not heard will understand.1718
22For this reason, I was hindered many times from coming to you. 23But now, since I no longer have any place in these regions and since I had for many years a longing to come to you, 24I [write that I] will come to you whenever I travel to Spain, in order to be helped on my way there by you, and first of all to enjoy your company for a while. 25But now, I want you to know that I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26It has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. 27Yes, it has been their good pleasure, as they are in debt to them. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them to be of service in material things. 28After I accomplish this and deliver this harvest to them, I will go to Spain by your way. 29I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.
30Now I beg you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31so that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea and so that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. 32[Pray also] that I may come to you in joy by the will of God, and together with you, find rest. 33May the God of peace be with you all! Amen.
Greetings
- Psalm 69:9/68 LXX
- Or “comfort” (compare also 1 Maccabees 12:9)
- TR reads “us” instead of “you”
- 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49/17 LXX
- Deuteronomy 32:43
- Psalm 117:1/116 LXX
- Isaias 11:10. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Compare epiclesis: “for the precious gifts now offered and sanctified”
- CT reads “Holy Spirit” instead of “God’s Spirit”
- Isaias 52:15. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
