Romans 15
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a] 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore
I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”[c]
10 Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[d]
11 And again,
“Praise
the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”[e]
12 And again, Isaiah says,
“The
Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”[f]
14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, 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 gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:
“Those
who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”[g]
22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- Romans 15:3 Psalm 69:9
- Romans 15:8 Greek circumcision
- Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49
- Romans 15:10 Deut. 32:43
- Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1
- Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10 (see Septuagint)
- Romans 15:21 Isaiah 52:15 (see Septuagint)
Romans 15:1-7
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
As the Apostle Paul finishes his discussion on Christian unity, he gives us two reasons to stop “quarrelling over disputable matters” (Romans 14:1). The first reason is we want to build others up, not tear them down.
“But isn’t convincing someone to accept the truth the best way to build them up?”
No.
You can share what you believe on an issue, but don’t quarrel about it. When you argue theological points or push your convictions on others, you want to convince them of your point to please yourself, to show you’re right on some topic. You’re not arguing to please the other person. Maybe a good test would be to ask yourself, “Is this person as happy as I am to be discussing this issue?” If not, back off.
The second reason we show grace toward other believers and practice Christian unity is it glorifies God. An unbelieving world is not convinced by seeing Christians arguing with one another. How much more would they see God lifted high if we all stood as one?
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Here’s a challenge for you today.
Everyone wants hope in their life. We hope things will be good for us in this life and in the next. But are we willing to do what it takes to strengthen our hope? The Apostle Paul says the Scriptures were written to teach us. But are we willing to learn? Are we taking the time to study the Scriptures so that they can teach us to hope?
What we read in the Bible shows us the endurance of people who trusted God through high points and low points in their lives, and God proved faithful to them. God fulfilled His promises. He worked all things for their good and brought about their salvation. We see the endurance of an entire nation seeking God and waiting for deliverance through a prophesied Messiah, the Christ whom we know has come.
The Scriptures encourage us not only through God’s promises to us but by assuring us we’re not alone. Hebrews 12 says we’re “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,” all those who hoped in God before us. The Bible shows a good God who will do good things for us, and it proves it by telling us the stories of people He’s already blessed.
If you need hope today, study the Scriptures. They were written for your good.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Don’t you love how the Bible has an answer for all our needs? If you need joy, trust in God! If you need peace, trust in God! It’s that simple. Knowing we can trust in God gives us hope for the future. Having hope fills us with joy and peace. You can’t have joy or peace if you don’t think things are moving toward a good end. That’s why your non-Christian friends and family aren’t joyful or peaceful people. They have nothing to hope for beyond this life.
We, however, can rejoice knowing He will work all things for our good in the end. We don’t have to be anxious about anything because we know a good God is ultimately in control of everything that happens. Nothing else can give us the joy and peace God can.
But having this hope, joy, and peace starts with trusting God. Do you trust Him? Is it overflowing to other people?
Romans 15:23-24
But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
Like the Apostle Paul to the Romans, people sometimes move through our lives. They come to visit us for a while and then continue on with the mission God has set for them. I want us to think today about how we can assist those people.
Your assistance might be monetary, as Paul is implying here, but it might also be that you have something to teach that person as they move through your life. Maybe you need to be the learner that helps them practice how to teach others. Maybe you need to be the friend that walks beside them for a time and encourages them to press on toward the goal God has set for them.
Who is the Spirit calling to your mind now? Who in your life is being called by God? You might not have the same calling as that person, but how can you help them fulfill it?
Romans 15:26-27
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.
Simple questions today: Who has blessed you spiritually?
How can you bless them materially?
Whatever that person has given you spiritually is worth more than you can give them materially. And if you give to someone doing active ministry, you’re helping them impart spiritual blessings to someone else. When we give, we show our gratitude and make an investment in God’s work.
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