Unity: modeled by the Messiah, encouraged by scripture

15 We, the “strong” ones, should bear with the frailty of the “weak,” and not please ourselves. ² Each one of us should please our neighbor for his or her good, to build them up.

³ The Messiah, you see, did not please himself. Instead, as the Bible says, “the reproaches of those who reproached you are fallen on me.” ⁴ Whatever was written ahead of time, you see, was written for us to learn from, so that through patience, and through the encouragement of the Bible, we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of patience and encouragement grant you to come to a common mind among yourselves, in accordance with the Messiah, Jesus, ⁶ so that, with one mind and one mouth, you may glorify the God and father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

United praise under the Messiah’s universal rule

⁷ Welcome one another, therefore, as the Messiah has welcomed you, to God’s glory. ⁸ Let me tell you why: the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised people in order to demonstrate the truthfulness of God—that is, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, ⁹ and to bring the nations to praise God for his mercy. As the Bible says:

¹⁰ And again it says,

¹¹ And again,

¹² And Isaiah says once more:

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the holy spirit.

Coming to Rome at last

¹⁴ When I think of you, my dear family, I myself am thoroughly convinced that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and well able to give one another instruction. ¹⁵ But I have written to you very boldly at some points, calling things to your mind through the grace which God has given me ¹⁶ to enable me to be a minister of Messiah Jesus for the nations, working in the priestly service of God’s good news, so that the offering of the nations may be acceptable, sanctified in the holy spirit.

¹⁷ This is the glad confidence I have in Messiah Jesus, and in God’s own presence. ¹⁸ Far be it from me, you see, to speak about anything except what the Messiah has accomplished through me for the obedience of the nations, in word and deed, ¹⁹ in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s spirit. I have completed the announcement of the Messiah’s good news from Jerusalem round as far as Illyricum. ²⁰ My driving ambition has been to announce the good news in places where the Messiah has not been named, so that I can avoid building on anyone else’s foundation. ²¹ Instead, as the Bible says,

²² That’s why I have faced so many obstacles to stop me coming to you. ²³ But now, finding myself with no more room in these regions, I have a great longing to come to you now at last after so many years, ²⁴ and so to make my way to Spain. You see, I’m hoping to see you as I pass through, and to be sent on my way there by you, once I have been refreshed by you for a while.

Aid for Jerusalem

²⁵ Now, though, I am going to Jerusalem to render service to God’s people there. ²⁶ Macedonia and Achaea, you see, have happily decided to enter into partnership with the poor believers in Jerusalem. ²⁷ They were eager to do this, and indeed they owe them a debt. If the nations have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, it is right and proper that they should minister to their earthly needs. ²⁸ So when I have completed this, and tied up all the loose ends, I will come via you to Spain. ²⁹ And I know that when I come to you I shall come with the full blessing of the Messiah.

³⁰ I urge you, my dear family, through our Lord Jesus the Messiah and through the love of the spirit: fight the battle for me in your prayers to God on my behalf, ³¹ so that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judaea, and so that my service for Jerusalem may be welcomed gladly by God’s people. ³² If this happens, I will come to you in joy, through the will of God, and be refreshed by being with you. ³³ May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.