67 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
67 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
Pleasing Others, Not Ourselves
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# Chapter 15
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1. Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.
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2. Each one of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
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3. For even Christ did not please himself. On the contrary, as it is written, <b class="quote">The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.**
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4. For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.
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5. Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus,
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6. so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.
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Glorifying God Together
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7. Therefore welcome one another, just as Christ also welcomed you, to the glory of God.
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8. For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,
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9. and so that Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
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<b class="quote">Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,**
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<b class="quote">and I will sing praise to your name.**
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10. Again it says, <b class="quote">Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people!**
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11. And again,
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<b class="quote">Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;**
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<b class="quote">let all the peoples praise him!**
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12. And again, Isaiah says,
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<b class="quote">The root of Jesse* <b class="quote">will appear,*
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<b class="quote">the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;**
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<b class="quote">the Gentiles will hope in him.**
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13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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From Jerusalem to Illyricum
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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.
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15. Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God
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16. to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God's purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
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17. Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God.
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18. For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles,
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19. by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God's Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.
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20. My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else's foundation,
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21. but, as it is written,
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<b class="quote">Those who were not told about him will see,**
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<b class="quote">and those who have not heard will understand.**
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Paul's Travel Plans
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22. That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.
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23. But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you
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24. whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.
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25. Right now I am traveling to Jerusalem to serve the saints,
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26. because Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
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27. Yes, they were pleased, and indeed are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual benefits, then they are obligated to minister to them in material needs.
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28. So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain.
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29. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
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30. Now I appeal to 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.
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31. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
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32. and that, by God's will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.
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33. May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
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