## Bearing the Weaknesses of Others 

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Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not _just_ please ourselves. 

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Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his building up. 

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For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." 

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For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

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Now may the God of perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 

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so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

## Christ, the Hope of Jews and Gentiles 

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Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. 

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For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises _given_ to the fathers, 

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and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, And I will sing to Your name." 

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And again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people." 

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And again, "Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him." 

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And again Isaiah says, "There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope." 

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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

## Paul's Ministry Plans 

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But I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge and being able also to admonish one another. 

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But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me by God 

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for me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that _my_ offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 

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Therefore in Christ Jesus I have reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 

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For I will not be bold to speak of anything except what Christ has brought about through me, leading to the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 

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in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 

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And in this way I make it my ambition to proclaim the gospel, not where Christ was _already_ named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation; 

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but as it is written, "They who had no declaration of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand." 

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For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 

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but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 

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whenever I go to Spain--for I hope, passing through, to see you, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while. 

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But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints. 

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For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 

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Yes, they were pleased _to do so_, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 

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Therefore, when I have completed this and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 

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And I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. 

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Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 

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that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and _that_ my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 

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so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find rest in your company. 

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Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.