Romans 14
14
Principles of Conscience
1Now accept the one who is weak #14:1 Or in the faithin faith, but not #14:1 Lit for quarrelsto have quarrels over opinions. 2One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge the #14:4 Or house servantservant of another? To his own #14:4 Lit lordmaster he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5One person #14:5 Lit judgesvalues one day over another, another #14:5 Lit judgesvalues every day the same. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6The one who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and the one who eats, #14:6 Lit eatsdoes so with regard to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God. 7For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
10But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. 11For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord, to Me every knee will bow,
And every tongue will #14:11 Or confessgive praise to God.”
12So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let’s not judge one another anymore, but rather #14:13 Lit judgedetermine this: not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s or sister’s way. 14I know and am convinced #14:14 Lit throughin the Lord Jesus that nothing is #14:14 I.e., ceremonially unclean; lit commonunclean in itself; but to the one who thinks something is #14:14 I.e., ceremonially unclean; lit commonunclean, to that person it is #14:14 I.e., ceremonially unclean; lit commonunclean. 15For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died. 16Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be #14:16 Lit blasphemedspoken of as evil; 17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by other people. 19So then we pursue the things #14:19 Lit of peace and the things of the building upwhich make for peace and the building up of one another. 20Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the person who eats #14:20 Lit by offenseand causes offense. 21It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother or sister stumbles. 22The faith which you have, have #14:22 Lit according to yourselfas your own conviction before God. Happy is the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
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Romans 14: NASB2020
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Romans 14
14
The Danger of Criticism
1Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
5In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
10So why do you condemn another believer#14:10 Greek your brother; also in 14:10b, 13, 15, 21.? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11For the Scriptures say,
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.#14:11 Or declare praise for God. Isa 49:18; 45:23 (Greek version).’”
12Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. 13So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
14I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
20Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.#14:21 Some manuscripts read to stumble or be offended or be weakened. 22You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.#14:23 Some manuscripts place the text of 16:25-27 here.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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