Romans
15 And we powerful ones ought to carry the weakenings of the feeble and not to please ourselves; 2 let each of us please his neighbor in what is good toward upbuilding. 3 For neither did the Christ please himself, but, as it is written, “the insults of those who were insulting you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written before was written for our instruction in order that through the steadfastness and encouragement in the scriptures we may have hope.
5 And may the God of steadfastness and of encouragement grant you to take the same views among yourselves in Christ Jesus’s way, 6 so that you may with one accord, with a single mind, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7* Wherefore take each other in in the same way as the Christ took you in, to the glory of God. 8*** For I tell you that Christ was made a serving-man to circumcised men on account of God’s truth so as to assure the promises made to the fathers, 9 and so that the nations should glorify God on account of mercy, as it is written “Because of this I will make acknowledgments to thee among the nations and sing psalms to thy name”; 10 and again it says “Jubilate, nations, with his people”; 11 and again “Praise the Lord, all nations, and let all the peoples laud him”; 12 and again Isaiah says “There shall be Jesse’s root and he who is set up to rule the nations; upon him the nations shall set their hopes.” 13 And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may be plentiful in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 And I am persuaded as to you myself, brothers, that you too are replete with goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to admonish each other yourselves. 15 But I have written to you, somewhat audaciously in parts, by way of reminding you, because of the grace that was given me from God 16 that I should be a chaplain of Christ Jesus’s to the nations, administering the sacramental service of God’s gospel in order that the nations’ offering should become acceptable, hallowed in Holy Spirit. 17* So I have my boasting in Christ Jesus as to God’s affairs; 18 for I will not venture to make any talk of what Christ did not accomplish through me toward the obedience of the nations, by word and act, 19** in the power of tokens and wonders, in the power of the Spirit, so that from Jerusalem clear round to Illyricum I have thoroughly spread the Christ’s gospel, 20 and making it my ambition to preach it in this way, not where Christ had been named, in order not to build on somebody else’s foundation, 21 but, as it is written, “they shall see who had not been told of him, and they shall realize who have not heard.”
22 Which is why I have generally been blocked from coming to you. 23 But now, no longer having any place in these territories, and having for several years past had a longing to come to you 24* when I am on my way to Spain—for I hope to take a look at you as I pass through and to be given a send-off on my way there by you, if I have first had my craving for you partly satisfied— 25 now I am taking a trip to Jerusalem on an errand of service to God’s people. 26 For Macedonia and Achaea have been pleased to do a certain act of solidarity toward the poor among God’s people at Jerusalem— 27** have been pleased to do it and owed it as a debt; for if the nations came to partake of their spiritual goods they ought also to do them service with material goods. 28 So when I have got through with this and set the seal on this fruit for them I will go to Spain by way of you; 29 and I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
30** And I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in wrestling in prayer to God for me 31 that I may be delivered from the disobedient in Jerusalem and my errand of service to Jerusalem may turn out acceptable to God’s people, 32* in order that I may come to you with gladness by God’s will. 33 And the God of peace be with you all; amen.