Romans 15-16

New King James Version

Bearing Others’ Burdens

15 We ^(A)then who are strong ought to bear with the ^[a]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^2 (B)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to ^[b]edification. ^3 (C)For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ^(D)“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” ⁴ For ^(E)whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the ^[c]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ^5 (F)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may ^(G)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

⁷ Therefore ^(H)receive one another, just ^(I)as Christ also received ^[d]us, to the glory of God. ⁸ Now I say that ^(J)Jesus Christ has become a ^[e]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, ^(K)to confirm the promises made to the fathers, ⁹ and ^(L)that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

¹⁰ And again he says:

¹¹ And again:

¹² And again, Isaiah says:

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

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

¹⁴ Now ^(R)I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, ^(S)filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish ^[f]one another. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, ^(T)because of the grace given to me by God, ¹⁶ that ^(U)I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the ^(V)offering ^[g]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus ^(W)in the things which pertain to God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak of any of those things ^(X)which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, ^(Y)to make the Gentiles obedient— ^19 (Z)in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, ^(AA)lest I should build on another man’s foundation, ²¹ but as it is written:

Plan to Visit Rome

²² For this reason ^(AC)I also have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now no longer having a place in these parts, and ^(AD)having a great desire these many years to come to you, ²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, ^[h]I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, ^(AE)and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may ^(AF)enjoy your company for a while. ²⁵ But now ^(AG)I am going to Jerusalem to ^[i]minister to the saints. ²⁶ For ^(AH)it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For ^(AI)if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, ^(AJ)their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them ^(AK)this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ^29 (AL)But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing ^[j]of the gospel of Christ.

³⁰ Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and ^(AM)through the love of the Spirit, ^(AN)that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, ^31 (AO)that I may be delivered from those in Judea who ^[k]do not believe, and that ^(AP)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ^32 (AQ)that I may come to you with joy ^(AR)by the will of God, and may ^(AS)be refreshed together with you. ³³ Now ^(AT)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Sister Phoebe Commended

16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in ^(AU)Cenchrea, ^2 (AV)that you may receive her in the Lord ^(AW)in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Greeting Roman Saints

³ Greet ^(AX)Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. ⁵ Likewise greet ^(AY)the church that is in their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is ^(AZ)the firstfruits of ^[l]Achaia to Christ. ⁶ Greet Mary, who labored much for us. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the ^(BA)apostles, who also ^(BB)were in Christ before me.

⁸ Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my ^[m]countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

¹² Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus, ^(BC)chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. ¹⁵ Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

^16 (BD)Greet one another with a holy kiss. ^[n]The churches of Christ greet you.

Avoid Divisive Persons

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brethren, note those ^(BE)who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and ^(BF)avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord ^[o]Jesus Christ, but ^(BG)their own belly, and ^(BH)by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. ¹⁹ For ^(BI)your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be ^(BJ)wise in what is good, and ^[p]simple concerning evil. ²⁰ And ^(BK)the God of peace ^(BL)will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

^(BM)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Greetings from Paul’s Friends

^21 (BN)Timothy, my fellow worker, and ^(BO)Lucius, ^(BP)Jason, and ^(BQ)Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

²² I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

^23 (BR)Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. ^(BS)Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. ^24 (BT)The^[q] grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Benediction

^25 [r]Now ^(BU)to Him who is able to establish you ^(BV)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ^(BW)according to the revelation of the mystery ^(BX)kept secret since the world began ²⁶ but ^(BY)now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for ^(BZ)obedience to the faith— ²⁷ to ^(CA)God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.