9. Christ also did this so that the non-Jewish people could praise God for the mercy he gives to them. The Scriptures say, “So I will give thanks to you among the people of other nations; I will sing praise to your name.” Psalm 18:49
10. And the Scriptures say, “You people of other nations should be happy together with God’s people.” Deuteronomy 32:43
11. The Scriptures also say, “Praise the Lord all you people of other nations; all people should praise the Lord.” Psalm 117:1
12. And Isaiah says, “Someone will come from Jesse’s family. He will come to rule over the nations, and they will put their hope in him.” Isaiah 11:10
13. I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
14. My brothers and sisters, I know without a doubt that you are full of goodness and have all the knowledge you need. So you are certainly able to counsel each other.
15. But I have written to you very openly about some things that I wanted you to remember. I did this because God gave me this special gift:
16. to be a servant of Christ Jesus for those who are not Jews. I serve like a priest whose duty it is to tell God’s Good News. He gave me this work so that you non-Jewish people could be an offering that he will accept—an offering made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17. That is why I feel so good about what I have done for God in my service to Christ Jesus.
18. I will not talk about anything I did myself. I will talk only about what Christ has done with me in leading the non-Jewish people to obey God. They have obeyed him because of what I have said and done.
19. And they obeyed him because of the power of the miraculous signs and wonders that happened—all because of the power of God’s Spirit. I have told people the Good News about Christ in every place from Jerusalem to Illyricum. And so I have finished that part of my work.
20. I always want to tell the Good News in places where people have never heard of Christ. I do this because I don’t want to build on the work that someone else has already started.
21. But as the Scriptures say, “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard about him will understand.” Isaiah 52:15
22. That’s what has kept me so busy and prevented my coming to see you even though I have wanted to come many times.
23. Now I have finished my work in these areas. And for many years I have wanted to visit you.