Chapter 15

1 Now we who are able ought to bear the infirmities of the unable, and not to please ourselves:

3 For even Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee, fell upon me."

4 For whatsoever things have been before written, have been written for our instruction, that through the patience and consolation of the Scriptures we might have hope:

5 And may the God of patience and of consolation grant you to have the same mind towards one another, according to Christ Jesus,

6 That ye may unanimously, with one mouth, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

8 Now I say, that Jesus Christ became the minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

9 The Gentiles also ought to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, "On this account will I confess to thee among the Gentiles, and to thy name will I sing"

11 And further, "Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and praise him together, all ye nations:"

12 And again Isaiah says, "There shall be the root; of Jesse, and he who shall rise up to reign over the

13 Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope." And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 But I am persuaded, my brethren, even I myself, concerning you, that ye are also yourselves full of' goodness, having been filled with all knowledge, being able to admonish one another.

15 The more boldly, however, have I written to you, my brethren, in part, as putting you in mind, on account of the grace given to me by God,

16 That I should be the minister of Christ to the Gentiles, consecrating the gospel of Christ, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 I have therefore reason for glorying, through Jesus Christ, in the things of God.

18 I will not indeed dare to speak anything of those things which Christ has not done through me, as to the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and work,

19 Through the power of signs and of wonders, through the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about to Illyricum,

20 I have spread more fully ¹ the gospel of Christ; thus endeavoring to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, that I might not build on another's foundation;

21 But, as it is written, "They to whom it has not been declared concerning him, shall see; and they who have not heard, shall understand."

23 But now, having a place no longer in these regions, and having a desire for many years to come to you,

24 When I go to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope that when I go there I shall see you, and that I shall be brought on my way thither by you, if however I shall first be in part filled by a converse with you.

26 For it has pleased Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution to the saints who are at Jerusalem:

27 It has pleased them, I say, and their debtors they are; for if the Gentiles have partaken of their spiritual things, they ought also to minister to them in temporal things.

28 When therefore I shall have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by you to Spain:

29 And I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30 Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive with me in your prayers for me to God,

31 That I may be delivered from the unbelieving in Judea, and that my service, undertaken for Jerusalem, may be acceptable to the saints;

32 That with joy I may come to you by the will of God, and may, together with you, be refreshed.

¹ "I have supplemented," is what Calvin approves: the gospel had already been partially preached, but Paul had filled up or supplied what was deficient.