Romans 15 (NMV)
1 We who are strong must bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not just please ourselves.
2 Each of us should please our neighbor for their good, to build them up.
3 For even Christ did not please Himself. Instead, as it is written: "The insults of those who insulted You fell on Me."
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have confident expectation.
5 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore, welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.
8 For I say that Christ became a servant to the circumcised on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
9 and so that the Gentiles [non-Jews] may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: "Because of this I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to Your name."
10 Again it says: "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people!"
11 And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol Him."
12 And again, Isaiah says: "The Root of Jesse will come, the One who rises to rule the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will place their confident expectation."
13 Now may the God of confident expectation fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with confident expectation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
15 But I have written to you very boldly on some points, as a reminder, because of the grace God gave me
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles . He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the good news of God, so that the Gentiles may become an offering acceptable to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17 So I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus about what pertains to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,
19 by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the good news about Christ.
20 In this way, I made it my aim to proclaim the good news where Christ was not already known, so that I would not build on someone else's foundation.
21 But as it is written: "Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."
22 That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
23 But now, since I no longer have a place to work in these regions, and I have desired for many years to come to you,
24 I plan to visit you when I travel to Spain. I hope to see you on my journey and to be helped on my way there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the believers.
26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.
27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated also to serve them in material things.
28 So after I have completed this task and made sure that they have received this gift, I will set out for Spain and visit you on the way.
29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf,
31 that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the believers there,
32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
33 Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.