Devine Scripture

Romans 15:3

What does Romans 15:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 15:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 15:3 means

Christ Himself is the supreme model of not pleasing oneself. Paul quotes Scripture to show that the Messiah willingly absorbed the insults aimed at God. Jesus accepted reproach to accomplish our salvation and honor His Father’s cause. If the Lord bore hostility to serve God’s redemptive plan, we can bear inconvenience or limit our freedoms for the good of others. The cross-shaped path sets the standard for Christian relationships: love takes the cost. Our patience with fellow believers is not naïve or weak; it follows the strong, sacrificial pattern of the Savior who bore what was not His to bear.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For Christ did not give pleasure to himself, but, as it is said, The bitter words of those who were angry with you came on me.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for even the Christ did not please himself, but, according as it hath been written, `The reproaches of those reproaching Thee fell upon me;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For Christ did not please himself: but, as it is written: The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For the Christ also did not please himself; but according as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproach thee have fallen upon me.

Context

Paul’s call to please our neighbor (vv.1–2) is now anchored in Christ’s example (v.3), supported by a cited Scripture line. This turns the exhortation from mere moral advice into Christ-centered discipleship. Next, verse 4 will underline that all the Scriptures serve our endurance and encouragement, leading to hope. Verses 5–6 will transform this Christ-shaped endurance into unified praise. Verse 3 thus supplies the theological weight: believers imitate Christ’s self-giving, grounded in the Word.

v.2Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.

v.3This passage

v.4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 26:42

    Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.

  • John 15:24

    If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • Psalms 40:6

    Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required.

  • Psalms 69:20

    Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

  • John 12:27

    Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.

  • John 4:34

    Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work.

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