The Example of Christ
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1We who are strong 2have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
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3Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
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For 4Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, 5"The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
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For 6whatever was written in former days was written for our 7instruction, that through endurance and through 8the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
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May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you 9to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
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that together you may with one voice glorify 10the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
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For I tell you that Christ 11became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order 12to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
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and in order 13that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, 14"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
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And again it is said, 15"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
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And again, 16"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him."
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And again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; 17in him will the Gentiles hope."
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May the God of hope fill you with all 18joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
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19I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,a that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with 20all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
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But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, 21because of the grace given me by God
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to be 22a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles 23in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that 24the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
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For I will not venture to speak of anything except 27what Christ has accomplished through me 28to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed,
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29by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God--so that 30from Jerusalem and all the way around 31to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
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and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, 32lest I build on someone else's foundation,
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but as it is written, 33"Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."
Paul's Plan to Visit Rome
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This is the reason why 34I have so often been hindered from coming to you.
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But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and 35since I have longed for many years to come to you,
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I hope to see you in passing as I go 36to Spain, and 37to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
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At present, however, 38I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
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For 39Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
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For they were pleased to do it, and indeed 40they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
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When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,b I will leave 41for Spain by way of you.
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I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessingc of Christ.
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I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by 42the love of the Spirit, 43to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
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44that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that 45my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
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so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and 46be refreshed in your company.
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May 47the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)