RomRöm RomansRömer, chapterKapitel Epistle to the RomansDer Brief des Paulus an die Römer, chapterKapitel 15

Accept One Another

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Rom 14:1; 1Co 9:22Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 1Co 10:24For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.” Psa 69:9For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.Rom 4:23

Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, 1Co 1:10; Php 2:2so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ the Servant of Jews and Gentiles

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God. Jhn 17:24For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs, Act 3:25; Rom 3:30so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles;

I will sing hymns to Your name.”Psa 18:49; 2Sa 22:50

Again, it says:

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”Deu 32:43

And again:

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

and extol Him, all you peoples.”Psa 117:1

And once more, Isaiah says:

“The Root of Jesse will appear,

One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles;

in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”Isa 11:10; Rev 5:5

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Rom 12:12; Rom 14:17

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another. However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.Isa 66:19; Act 9:15; Rom 12:2

Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, 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 gospel of Christ.

In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 1Co 3:10; 2Co 10:15Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about Him will see,

and those who have not heard will understand.”Isa 52:15

That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.Rom 1:13

Paul’s Travel Plans

But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you, 1Th 3:10I hope to see you on my way to Spain. And after I have enjoyed your company for a while, you can equip me for my journey.

Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there. Act 24:17For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 1Co 16:1; 2Co 8:4They 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 to minister to them with material blessings.1Co 9:11

So after I have completed this service and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set off to Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.Rom 1:11

Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 2Co 1:11Pray that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, Act 20:23so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.Rom 1:10

The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.Rom 16:20; 1Co 14:33