15 We who are ·strong in faith [^Lstrong] should ·help [bear with; be patient with] the weak with their ·weaknesses [failings; struggles], and not please only ourselves. ² Let each of us please our neighbors for their good, to ·help them be stronger in faith [edify them; build them up]. ³ [^LFor] Even Christ did not live to please himself. It was as the Scriptures said: “·When people insult you, it hurts me [^LThe insults of those who insulted you have fallen on me; Ps. 69:9].” ⁴ [^LFor] Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. The Scriptures give us ·patience [endurance] and encouragement so that we can have hope. ⁵ May ·the patience and encouragement that come from God [^Lthe God of patience and encouragement] ·allow you to live in harmony with each other the way Christ Jesus wants [or grant you the same attitude with each other that Christ Jesus had]. ⁶ ·Then [^L…so that] ·you will all be joined together and [^Ltogether with one voice/mouth] you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Accept each another, just as Christ accepted you. ·This will bring glory to God [or In this way Christ brought glory to God; ^L…to the glory of God]. ⁸ [^LFor] I tell you that Christ became a servant of the ·Jews [^Lcircumcised] to ·show [confirm] that God’s promises to the ·Jewish ancestors [patriarchs; fathers] are true. ⁹ And he also did this so that the Gentiles could give glory to God for the mercy he gives to them. [^LJust as] It is written in the Scriptures:

¹⁰ ·The Scripture also [^LAnd again it] says,

¹¹ ·Again the Scripture says [^LAnd again],

¹² And [^Lagain] Isaiah says,

¹³ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with ·much [^Lall] joy and peace ·while you trust [because you trust; through your faith] in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul Talks About His Work

¹⁴ My brothers and sisters, I am ·sure [fully convinced] that you are [indeed] full of goodness. I know that you ·have all the knowledge you need [^Lare filled with all knowledge] and that you are able to ·teach [instruct; admonish; warn] each other. ¹⁵ But I have written to you very ·openly [boldly] about some ·things [points; ^Lparts] I wanted you to remember. I did this because ·God gave me this special gift [or of the grace God gave me]: ¹⁶ to be a ·minister [servant] of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I ·served God [or perform priestly service] ·by teaching his Good News [for the Good News/Gospel of/about God], so that the Gentiles could be an offering that God would accept—an offering ·made holy [sanctified; purified] by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ So I ·am proud [have a reason to boast] of what I have done for God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁸ I will not [dare] talk about anything except what Christ has done through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God. They have obeyed God because of what I have said and done, ¹⁹ because of the power of ·miracles [signs] and ·the great things they saw [wonders; marvels], ·and because of [or acccomplished through] the power of the Spirit of God. I have ·finished my work of preaching [fulfilled my commission to preach; or fully preached] the ·Good News [Gospel] from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum [^Ca Roman province northwest of Macedonia; modern Albania, Serbia and Montenegro]. ²⁰ [So; In this way] I always ·want [or try; make it my ambition] to preach the ·Good News [Gospel] in places where ·people have never heard of Christ [^LChrist has not been named], ·because I do not want [or in order not] to build on the ·work someone else has already started [^Lfoundation of others]. ²¹ But [^Las; just as] it is written in the Scriptures:

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

²² This is the reason I was ·stopped [hindered; or delayed] many times from coming to you. ²³ [^LBut] Now I have ·finished my work here [^Lno more place (to work) in these regions]. Since for many years I have wanted to come to you, ²⁴ I hope to visit you [while passing through] on my way to Spain. After I enjoy being with you for a while, I hope you can ·help [assist; support] me on my trip. ²⁵ Now I am going to Jerusalem to ·help [minister to; provide a service for] ·God’s people [^Tthe saints]. ²⁶ The believers in Macedonia [^Cnorthern Greece] and Achaia [^Csouthern Greece] were ·happy [pleased; or resolved] to ·give their money to help [make a contribution to; 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Cor. 8—9] the poor among ·God’s people [^Tthe saints] at Jerusalem. ²⁷ They were ·happy [pleased; or resolved] to do this, and really they ·owe it [^Lare debtors] to them. These Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, so they should use their material ·possessions [or blessings] to ·help the Jews [^Lrender service to them]. ²⁸ [^LTherefore] After I have completed this collection and ·delivered the money safely to them [^Lsealed this fruit for them; ^Cuncertain idiom, likely indicating secure packaging or safe arrival of cargo], I will leave for Spain and stop and visit you. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you ·I will bring Christ’s full blessing [or Christ will richly bless our time together; ^LI will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing].

³⁰ Brothers and sisters, I ·beg [urge; encourage] you to ·help [join; strive together with] me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love ·that the Holy Spirit gives us [^Lof the Spirit]. ³¹ Pray that I will be ·saved [rescued; delivered] from the nonbelievers in Judea and that ·this help I bring [my ministry/service] to Jerusalem will ·please [be acceptable to; be well received by] ·God’s people [^Tthe saints] there. ³² Then, ·if God wants me to [by God’s will], I will come to you with joy, and together you and I will ·have a time of rest [be refreshed]. ³³ [Now may] The God who gives peace be with you all. Amen.