For I long to see you, to convey to you some spiritual gift that will strengthen you;

I want you to understand, brothers, that I have often intended to come to see you (though thus far I have been prevented) in order to produce some results among you, as well as among the rest of the heathen.

Do you think so lightly of his wealth of kindness, forbearance, and patience, and fail to see that God's kindness ought to induce you to repent?

but all through my body I see another principle in conflict with the law of my reason, which makes me a prisoner to that law of sin that runs through my body.

It was in this hope that we were saved. But a hope that can be seen is not a hope, for who hopes for what he sees?

But when we hope for something that we do not see, we wait persistently for it.

And why? Because they did not seek it through faith, but through doing certain things. They stumbled over that stone that makes people stumble,

as the Scripture says, "See, I will put a stone on Zion to make people stumble, and a rock to trip over, But no one who has faith in it will be disappointed."

The rest became callous; as the Scripture says, "God has thrown them into a state of spiritual insensibility, with eyes that cannot see and cars that cannot hear, that has lasted down to this day."

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; Make their backs bend forever under their burden!"

Do not pay anyone back with evil for evil. See that you are above reproach in the eyes of everyone.

in making me a minister of Christ Jesus among the heathen, to act as a priest of God's good news, to see that the heathen are an acceptable sacrifice, consecrated by the holy Spirit.

As the Scripture says, "They who have never been told of him will see, And they who have never heard will understand!"

This is why I have so often been prevented from coming to see you.

But now there is no more work for me in this part of the world, and as I have had a great desire for many years to come to see you,

when I go to Spain I hope to see you on my way there, and to have you see me off on my journey, after I have enjoyed being with you for a while.

So when I have finished this matter, and seen this contribution safely into their possession, I will start for Spain, and come to you on the way,

and I know that when I do come to see you, I will come with Christ's fullest blessing.

so that, if it is God's will, I may come with a glad heart to see you and enjoy a visit with you.