Daily Bread

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

¹⁴ I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness,^(A) filled with knowledge^(B) and competent to instruct one another. ¹⁵ Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me^{(C) 16} to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.^(D) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,^(E) so that the Gentiles might become an offering^(F) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus^(G) in my service to God.^{(H) 18} I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles^(I) to obey God^(J) by what I have said and done— ¹⁹ by the power of signs and wonders,^(K) through the power of the Spirit of God.^(L) So from Jerusalem^(M) all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.^{(N) 20} It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel^(O) where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.^{(P) 21} Rather, as it is written:

²² This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.^(R)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

²³ But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,^{(S) 24} I plan to do so when I go to Spain.^(T) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist^(U) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵ Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem^(V) in the service^(W) of the Lord’s people^(X) there. ²⁶ For Macedonia^(Y) and Achaia^(Z) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.^{(AA) 27} They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.^{(AB) 28} So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain^(AC) and visit you on the way. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you,^(AD) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰ I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,^(AE) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.^{(AF) 31} Pray that I may be kept safe^(AG) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution^(AH) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people^(AI) there, ³² so that I may come to you^(AJ) with joy, by God’s will,^(AK) and in your company be refreshed.^{(AL) 33} The God of peace^(AM) be with you all. Amen.