Romans 15:14-29

14Personally I am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge, and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another.

15Still, on some points I have written to you very boldly and without reservation to remind you [about them] again, because of the grace that was given to me from God,

16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I minister as a priest the gospel of God, in order that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable [to Him], sanctified [made holy and set apart for His purpose] by the Holy Spirit.

17In Christ Jesus, then, I have found [legitimate] reason for boasting in things related [to my service] to God.

18For I will not [even] presume to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me [as an instrument in His hands], resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles [to the gospel], by word and deed,

19with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] in the power of the Spirit. So [starting] from Jerusalem and as far away as Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel [faithfully preaching the good news] of Christ [where it had not before been preached].

20Accordingly I set a goal to preach the gospel, not where Christ’s name was already known, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation;

21but [instead I would act on this goal] as it is written [in Scripture], “They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard [of Him] shall understand.”

22This [goal—my commitment to this principle] is the reason why I have often been prevented from coming to you [in Rome].

23But now, with no further place for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you—

24whenever I go [on my trip] to Spain—I hope to see you as I pass through [Rome], and to be helped on my journey there by you, after I have first enjoyed your company for a little while.

25But for now, I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints (Jewish believers).

26For [Gentile believers in] Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints (Jewish believers) in Jerusalem.

27They were pleased to do it, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual things, then they are indebted to serve them also in [tangible] material things.

28Therefore, when I have finished this [mission] and have safely given to them what has been raised, I will go on by way of you to Spain.

29I know that when I do come to you, I will come in the abundant blessing of Christ.