15: 19. of signs and wonders, with the influence of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the Good News of Christ, and I was ambitious to proclaim it in such a way as not to proclaim it where Christ had been named, so that I might not build on another's foundation, but just as it is written: They shall see to whom no news about him has been announced, And they who have not heard shall understand. It was for this reason also I have been hindered these many times from coming to you; but now having no longer opportunity in these parts, and having been possessed these many years with an eager desire to visit you, whenever I go to Spain, -for I hope to see you on my way to Spain, and to be helped on my way there by you when I have once to a certain extent satisfied myself with you, -but now, as I started to say, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of Christ's followers there. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among Christ's followers at Jerusalem. They have been pleased, I say, and they owe it to them. For if the heathen have become sharers in their spiritual possessions, they ought also to aid them with their temporal possessions. So when I have performed this duty, and have securely conveyed to them this ROM. 15:28. PRAY FOR US. 185 return, I shall pass through you on my way to Spain. And I know that in visiting you I shall come in the fulness of Christ's blessing. Now I call on you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the love inspired by the Spirit, to join with me in my earnest prayers to God for myself, so that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that the service which is taking me to Jerusalem may be well received by Christ's followers so that when I visit you with joyful thankfulness, I shall, by God's will, give and get refreshment among you by our mutual intercourse. Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen. I commend to you, Phoebe, our sister, a deaconess of the Church at Cenchreæ. Welcome her in the Lord worthily of Christ's followers, and stand by her in whatever she may need you. For she herself has stood by many and by me. Give my best wishes to Priscilla and Aquila, My fellow-laborers in Christ Jesus, Who risked their own lives for my life, So that not only I myself am continually thanking them, But also all the heathen Churches. Give my best wishes to the Church in their house. 16: 5. Give my best wishes to Epænetus, my loved one, Who is the first-fruits of Asia brought to Christ. Give my best wishes to Mary, Who bestowed a great deal of labor on you. Give my best wishes to Andronicus and Junia, My relatives and fellow-prisoners, Who are of note among the apostles, Who also have been in Christ before me. Give my best wishes to Ampliatus, my loved one in the Lord. Give my best wishes to Urban, our fellowlaborer in Christ, And Stachys, my loved one. Give my best wishes to Appelles, the approved in Christ. Give my best wishes to those who belong to Aristobulus' household. Give my best wishes to my relative Herodion. Give my best wishes to such of the household of Narcissus As are in the Lord. Give my best wishes to Tryphæna and Tryphosa, Who labor in the Lord. Give my best wishes to Persia, my loved one, Who has done a great deal of work in the Lord. ROM. 16: 13. AVOID FACTIOUS PEOPLE. 187 Give my best wishes to Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, And his mother and mine. Give my best wishes to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Patrobus, Hermas, And their fellow-associates. Give my best wishes to Philologus and Julia, And all their fellow-believers. Give your best wishes to each other with a kiss of devotion. All the Churches of Christ send their best wishes to you. Now I call on you, brothers, to keep on the watch against those who are causing the divisions contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and are setting their traps for the unwary. Avoid them. For such men are not slaves to our Lord Christ, but to their own belly; and by their specious manner and seeming reasonableness they are deceiving the hearts of the guileless. For your endurance has become known to everybody. So I rejoice to think of you in this way. But I desire you to be wise in what is good, and to be pure and clear of evil. And the God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. 16: 23. May the favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Timothy, my fellow-laborer, sends you his best wishes, And so does Luke and Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, Send you my best wishes as a follower of the Gaius, my host, and the host of the whole Sends you his best wishes. Erastus, the city treasurer, and his brother, Send you their best wishes. Now to him who is able to strengthen you According to the revelation of the secret Which has before this forever been kept insilence, But now is made clear, And by means of the prophetic scriptures, |