Part 15

015:015 But I write to you the more boldly--partly as reminding you of what you already know--because of the authority graciously entrusted to me by God,

015:016 that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, doing priestly duties in connexion with God's Good News so that the sacrifice--namely the Gentiles--may be acceptable to Him, being (as it is) an offering which the Holy Spirit has made holy.

015:017 I can therefore glory in Christ Jesus concerning the work for God in which I am engaged.

015:018 For I will not presume to mention any of the results that Christ has brought about by other agency than mine in securing the obedience of the Gentiles by word or deed,

015:019 with power manifested in signs and marvels, and through the power of the Holy Spirit. But--to speak simply of my own labours-- beginning in Jerusalem and the outlying districts, I have proclaimed without reserve, even as far as Illyricum, the Good News of the Christ;

015:020 making it my ambition, however, not to tell the Good News where Christ's name was already known, for fear I should be building on another man's foundation.

015:021 But, as Scripture says, "Those shall see, to whom no report about Him has hitherto come, and those who until now have not heard shall understand."

015:022 And it is really this which has again and again prevented my coming to you.

015:023 But now, as there is no more unoccupied ground in this part of the world, and I have for years past been eager to pay you a visit,

015:024 I hope, as soon as ever I extend my travels into Spain, to see you on my way and be helped forward by you on my journey, when I have first enjoyed being with you for a time.

015:025 But at present I am going to Jerusalem to serve God's people,

015:026 for Macedonia and Greece have kindly contributed a certain sum in relief of the poor among God's people, in Jerusalem.

015:027 Yes, they have kindly done this, and, in fact, it was a debt they owed them. For seeing that the Gentiles have been admitted in to partnership with the Jews in their spiritual blessings, they in turn are under an obligation to render sacred service to the Jews in temporal things.

015:028 So after discharging this duty, and making sure that these kind gifts reach those for whom they are intended, I shall start for Spain, passing through Rome on my way there;

015:029 and I know that when I come to you it will be with a vast amount of blessing from Christ.

015:030 But I entreat you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love which His Spirit inspires, to help me by wrestling in prayer to God on my behalf,

015:031 asking that I may escape unhurt from those in Judaea who are disobedient, and that the service which I am going to Jerusalem to render may be well received by the Church there,

015:032 in order that if God be willing I may come to you with a glad heart, and may enjoy a time of rest with you.

015:033 May God, who gives peace be with you all! Amen.

016:001 Herewith I introduce our sister Phoebe to you, who is a servant of the Church at Cenchreae,

016:002 that you may receive her as a fellow Christian in a manner worthy of God's people, and may assist her in any matter in which she may need help. For she has indeed been a kind friend to many, including myself.

016:003 Greetings to Prisca and Aquila my fellow labourers in the work of Christ Jesus--

016:004 friends who have endangered their own lives for mine. I am grateful to them, and not I alone, but all the Gentile Churches also.

016:005 Greetings, too, to the Church that meets at their house. Greetings to my dear Epaenetus, who was the earliest convert to Christ in the province of Asia;

016:006 to Mary who has laboured strenuously among you;

016:007 and to Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen, who once shared my imprisonment. They are of note among the Apostles, and are Christians of longer standing than myself.

016:008 Greetings to Ampliatus, dear to me in the Lord;

016:009 to Urban, our fellow labourer in Christ, and to my dear Stachys.