On your part, you must exercise your faith by the standard of yourself in the sight of God. Happy is the man who need not condemn himself for doing the thing that he approves.

But the man who has misgivings about eating, if he then eats, has already condemned himself by so doing, because he did not follow his faith, and any action that does not follow one's faith is a sin.

It is the duty of us who are strong to bear with the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not merely to please ourselves.

Christ certainly did not please Himself; instead, as the Scripture says, "The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen upon me."

May God, who gives men patient endurance and encouragement, grant you such harmony with one another, in accordance with the standard which Christ Jesus sets,

And again Isaiah says: "The noted Son of Jesse will come, even He who rises to rule the heathen; on Him the heathen will set their hope."

May God, who inspires our hope, grant you perfect happiness and peace in your faith, till you are filled with this hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

but, as the Scripture says: "They will see who were never told of Him, and they will understand who have not heard."

for it pleased Macedonia and Achaia well to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem;

Yes, they were glad to do so; and indeed it is a duty which they owe to them. For the Gentile converts who have shared their spiritual blessings are in duty bound to minister to them in the things of this world.

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;

that I may be delivered from those in Judea who are disobedient, and that the help which I am taking to Jerusalem may be well received by God's people there,

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

Now I introduce to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deaconess in the church at Cenchreae,

That you will take her in kindly, after the way of the saints, as one who is the Lord's, and give her help in anything in which she may have need of you: because she has been a help to a great number and to myself.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me for the Messiah Jesus,

who once risked their very necks for my life. I am so thankful to them; not only I but also all the churches among the heathen thank them.

Remember me to the church too, that meets at their house. Remember me to my dear Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

Remember me to Mary, who has toiled so hard for you.

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Give my love to Ampliatus, who is dear to me in the Lord,

Greet Apelles, who has been approved by the Messiah. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.

salute Herodion, my kinsman; salute those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord;

Remember me to Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who continued to toil in the work of the Lord. Remember me to my dear friend Persis, who toiled so hard in the work of the Lord.

Remember me to Rufus, that choicest Christian, and to his mother, who has been a mother to me too.

Remember me to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are associated with them.

Remember me to Philologus and Julia, to Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas, and all God's people who are associated with them.

But I beg you, brothers, to keep on the lookout for those who stir up divisions and put hindrances in your way, in opposition to the instruction that you had, and always avoid them.

For such people are not servants of the Lord Christ, but of their stomachs; and by their smooth and well-said words the hearts of those who have no knowledge of evil are tricked.

And God, who is the source of peace, will soon crush Satan under your feet. The blessing of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Timothy, who is working with me, sends his love to you, so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relations.

I, Tertius, who write this letter, wish to be remembered to you as a fellow-Christian.

Gaius, who is host to me and the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to him who is able to stablish you,

To Him who can make you strong in accordance with the good news I bring and in accordance with the message preached about Jesus Christ, in accordance with the uncovering of the secret which for ages past had not been told,

to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen.