Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
Please Others, Not Yourselves
15 Now we who are strong ought to be patient with the weaknesses of those who are not strong and must stop pleasing ourselves. 2 Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building him up. 3 For even the Messiah[a] did not please himself. Instead, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[b] 4 For everything that was written long ago was written to instruct us, so that we might have hope through the endurance and encouragement that the Scriptures give us.[c]
5 Now may God, the source of endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other as you follow the Messiah[d] Jesus,[e] 6 so that with one mind and one voice you might glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[f]
7 Therefore, accept one another, just as the Messiah[g] accepted you,[h] for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that the Messiah[i] became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth in order to confirm the promises given to our ancestors, 9 so that the gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
10 Again he says,[l]
“Rejoice, you gentiles, with his people!”[m]
11 And again,
12 And again, Isaiah says,
“There will be a Root[q] from Jesse.
He will rise up to rule the gentiles,
and the gentiles will hope in him.”[r]
13 Now may God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s Desire to Take the Gospel to the Whole World
14 I myself am convinced,[s] my brothers, that you yourselves are filled with goodness and full of all the knowledge you need to be able to instruct each other. 15 However, on some points I have written to you rather boldly, both as a reminder to you and because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of the Messiah[t] Jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering brought by gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore, in the Messiah[u] Jesus I have the right to boast about my work for God. 18 For I am bold enough to tell you only about what the Messiah[v] has accomplished through me in bringing gentiles to obedience. By my words and actions, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit,[w] I have fully proclaimed the gospel of the Messiah[x] from Jerusalem as far as Illyricum. 20 My one ambition is to proclaim the gospel where the name of the Messiah[y] is not known, so I don’t[z] build on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written,
“Those who were never told about him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”[aa]
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22 This is why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, having no further opportunities in these regions, I want to come to you, as I’ve desired to do for many years. 24 Now that I am on my way to Spain, I hope to see you when I come your way and, after I have enjoyed your company for a while, to be sent on by you.
25 Right now, however, I’m going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints, 26 because the believers in[ab] Macedonia and Achaia have been eager to share their resources with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were eager to do this, and in fact they are obligated to help them, for if the gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to be of service to them in material things.
28 So when I have completed this task and have put my seal on this contribution of theirs, I will visit you on my way to Spain. 29 And I know that when I come to you I will come with the full blessing of the Messiah.[ac]
30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[ad] and by the love that the Spirit produces, to join me in my struggle, earnestly praying to God for me 31 that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that if it’s God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
Doxology
33 Now may the God who grants[ae] peace be with all of you! Amen.
Personal Greetings
16 Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[af] in the church at Cenchrea. 2 Welcome her in the Lord as is appropriate for saints, and provide her with anything she may need from you, for she has ministered to many people, including me.
3 Greet Prisca[ag] and Aquila, who work with me for the Messiah[ah] Jesus, 4 and who risked their necks for my life. I am thankful to them, and so are all the churches among the gentiles. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epaenetus, who was the first convert[ai] to the Messiah[aj] in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,[ak] my fellow Jews who are in prison with me and are prominent among the apostles. They belonged to the Messiah[al] before I did. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in the Messiah,[am] and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who has been approved by the Messiah.[an] Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the family of Narcissus, who belong to the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who have worked hard for the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has toiled diligently for the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, the one chosen by the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.[ao] All the churches of the Messiah[ap] greet you.
Final Warning
17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and sinful enticements that oppose the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them, 18 because such people are not serving the Messiah[aq] our Lord, but their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For your obedience has become known to everyone, and I am full of joy for you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[ar] be with all of you![as]
Final Greeting
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22 I, Tertius, who penned this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you. 24 May the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[at] be with all of you![au]
Final Doxology
25 Now to the one who is able to strengthen you with my gospel and the message that I preach about Jesus, the Messiah,[av] by revealing the secret that was kept hidden from long ago 26 but now has been made known through the prophets to all the gentiles, in keeping with the decree of the eternal God to bring them to the obedience that springs from faith— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus the Messiah,[aw] be glory forever! Amen.
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