Romans:15
Seeker Overlay ON
*
Now we who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak ,
and not to seek our own pleasure .
*
Let each one of us try to make his neighbor happy for his good ,
unto his upbuilding .
*
For even Christ pleased not himself ;
but as it is written ,
The reproaches of those who were reproaching thee fell upon me .
*
For everything that was written of old has been written for our instruction ,
that through patience ,
and through the comfort of the Scriptures ,
we might have hope .
*
Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be in full sympathy with one another ,
in accordance with the example of Jesus Christ ;
*
so that with one heart and with one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ .
*
Wherefore always receive one another into fellowship ,
to the glory of God ,
even as Christ also received you .
*
For I say that Christ has been made a minister of the Circumcision the people of Israel ,
in vindication of Gods truth ,
so that he may confirm the promises given to our forefathers ;
*
and so that the Gentiles also should praise God for his mercy ,
as it is written ,
Therefore I will offer praise to thee among the Gentiles ,
And sing to thy name .
*
Or again ,
Rejoice ,
O Gentiles ,
with his people .
*
Or again ,
Praise the Lord ,
all ye Gentiles ,
And let all the people extol him .
*
Or again ,
as Isaiah says .
There shall be the root of Jesse ,
And he that arises to rule over the Gentiles ;
On him shall the Gentiles hope .
*
Now the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing ,
that you may be overflowing with hope in the power of the Holy Spirit .
*
And I myself also am confident regarding you ,
my brothers ,
that you yourselves are already full of goodness ,
filled with all knowledge ,
and well able to give advice to one another .
*
Still I have written unto you the more boldly ,
in part ,
by way of reminding you ,
because of that gift of grace which God bestowed upon me ,
in making me a priest of Jesus Christ unto the Gentiles .
*
I act as priest of the gospel of God ;
so that the Gentiles ,
when offered before him ,
may be an acceptable sacrifice ,
because consecrated by the Holy Spirit .
*
I have then my boast in Christ Jesus concerning the things of God .
*
For I will not dare to speak of any thing except that which Christ has done through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed ,
*
through the might of signs and wonders ,
in the power of the Holy Spirit .
So that beginning at Jerusalem and its environs ,
I have proclaimed without reserve the gospel of Christ ,
even as far as Illyricum .
*
My ambition has been ,
however ,
to preach the gospel where Christs name was not already known ,
so that I might not build upon another mans foundation .
*
But ,
as Scripture says ,
He shall be seen by those to whom no news about him ever came ,
And those who have never heard of him shall understand .
*
This is why I have been so hindered from coming to you .
*
But now ,
since I have no more any "
opening "
in these parts ,
and since I have longed for many years to come to you
*
whenever I go to Spain ,
I am hoping to see you on my way there ,
and to be set forward by you on my way there ,
and to be set forward by you on my journey thither ,
after I have enjoyed your company for a little while .
*
Just now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints .
*
For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make an offering for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem .
*
Yes ,
it has been made their good pleasure ,
and their debt ,
too .
For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual riches ,
they owe it to them also to minister to them the Jews in worldly goods .
*
When ,
therefore ,
I have settled this ,
and have secured to them the poor at Jerusalem the fruit of this collection ,
I shall come on by you into Spain .
*
And I know that when I come to you ,
I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ .
*
Brothers ,
I beseech you ,
by Jesus Christ our Lord ,
and by the love which the Spirit gives ,
to help me in my struggle by your prayers to God on my behalf ,
*
that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Judea ;
that my mission to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the saints ;
*
and that I may come to you in joy ,
by the will of God ,
and find rest together with you .
*
The God of peace be with you all !
Amen .