1We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (羅14:1; 加6:1; 帖前5:14)2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (林前9:19; 林前9:22; 林前10:24; 林前10:33; 腓2:4)3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (诗69:9; 约5:30; 约6:38; 腓2:5; 腓2:8)4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (诗119:50; 羅4:23; 提后3:16)5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (羅12:16)6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (约20:17; 林后1:3; 弗1:3; 弗1:17; 彼前1:3; 启1:6)7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, (太15:24; 约1:11; 徒3:26; 羅4:16; 林后1:20; 來3:1)9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” (撒下22:50; 诗18:49; 羅3:29)10And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” (申32:43)11And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” (诗117:1)12And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” (赛11:1; 赛11:10; 太12:21; 启5:5; 启22:16)13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (羅5:1; 羅14:17)
Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
14I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,[1] that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. (林前1:5; 林前8:1; 林前8:7; 林前8:10; 林前12:8; 林前13:2; 彼后1:12; 彼后3:1; 约一2:21)15But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God (羅1:5)16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (赛66:20; 玛1:11; 羅11:13; 腓2:17)17In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. (腓3:3; 來2:17; 來5:1)18For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, (徒15:12; 徒21:19; 羅1:5; 加2:8)19by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; (徒19:11; 徒20:1; 徒22:17; 林后12:12)20and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, (林后10:13; 林后10:15)21but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (赛52:15)
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. (羅1:13; 帖前2:18)23But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, (徒19:21; 羅1:10; 羅15:29; 羅15:32)24I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. (徒15:3; 羅15:28)25At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. (徒19:21; 徒20:22; 徒21:15; 徒24:17; 羅15:31)26For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. (林前16:1; 林后8:1; 林后9:2; 林后9:13)27For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. (林前9:11; 加6:6)28When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,[2] I will leave for Spain by way of you. (羅15:24)29I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing[3] of Christ.30I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, (林后1:11; 腓2:1; 西1:8; 西2:1; 西4:12; 來13:18)31that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, (林后8:4; 帖后3:2; 提后3:11; 提后4:17)32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. (林前16:18; 林后7:13; 门1:7; 门1:20)33May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (羅16:20; 林前14:33; 林后13:11; 腓4:9; 帖前5:23; 帖后3:16; 來13:20)