Paul the Minister to the Gentiles
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,1 that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to hinstruct one another. 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of ithe grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus jto the Gentiles in the priestly service of the kgospel of God, so that lthe offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what mChrist has accomplished through me to nbring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 oby the power of signs and wonders, pby the power of the Spirit of God—so that qfrom Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, rnot where Christ has already been named, lest I sbuild on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written,
t“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome
22 This is the reason why uI have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But 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, 24 vI 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. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem wbringing aid to the saints. 26 xFor Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For yif the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,1 I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing2 of Christ.
30 zI appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the alove of the Spirit, bto cstrive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be ddelivered from the eunbelievers in Judea, and that my service ffor Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and gbe hrefreshed in your company. 33 May the iGod of peace be with you all. Amen.
