Rom 14 | CPDV | STEP | But accept those who are weak in faith, without disputing about ideas.

Romans 14

The strong must bear with the weak. Cautions against judging and giving scandal.

1 But accept those who are weak in faith, without disputing about ideas. 2 For one person believes that he may eat all things, but if another is weak, let him eat plants. ^{▼▼14:2 Eat all things: Viz., without observing the distinction of clean and unclean meats, prescribed by the law of Moses: which was now no longer obligatory. Some weak Christians, converted from among the Jews, as we here gather from the apostle, made a scruple of eating such meats as were deemed unclean by the law; such as swine’s flesh, etc., which the stronger sort of Christians did eat without scruple. Now the apostle, to reconcile them together, exhorts the former not to judge or condemn the latter, using their Christian liberty; and the latter, to take care not to despise or scandalize their weaker brethren, either by bringing them to eat what in their conscience they think they should not, or by giving them such offence, as to endanger the driving them thereby from the Christian religion.(Challoner)} 3 He who eats should not despise him who does not eat. And he who does not eat should not judge him who eats. For God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? He stands or falls by his own Lord. But he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand. 5 For one person discerns one age from the next. But another discerns unto every age. Let each one increase according to his own mind. ^{▼▼14:5The one who eats discerns that, in this present age (New Testament times), eating formerly-unclean foods is permitted, even though it was not permitted in the previous age (Old Testament times). The one who discerns unto every age refrains from eating, for self-denial and self-restraint is permitted in every age.(Conte)
,} ^{▼▼14:5 Between day, etc: Still observing the sabbaths and festivals of the law.(Challoner)} 6 He who understands the age, understands for the Lord. And he who eats, eats for the Lord; for he gives thanks to God. And he who does not eat, does not eat for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself. 8 For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For Christ died and rose again for this purpose: that he might be the ruler of both the dead and the living. 10 So then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 And so, each one of us shall offer an explanation of himself to God. 13 Therefore, we should no longer judge one another. Instead, judge this to a greater extent: that you should not place an obstacle before your brother, nor lead him astray. 14 I know, with confidence in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in and of itself. But to him who considers anything to be unclean, it is unclean to him. ^{▼▼14:14The word ‘commune’ can be translated as ‘unclean’ or as ‘common.’(Conte)} 15 For if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are not now walking according to love. Do not allow your food to destroy him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore, what is good for us should not be a cause of blasphemy. 17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but rather justice and peace and joy, in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in this, pleases God and is proven before men. 19 And so, let us pursue the things that are of peace, and let us keep to the things that are for the edification of one another. 20 Do not be willing to destroy the work of God because of food. Certainly, all things are clean. But there is harm for a man who offends by eating. 21 It is good to refrain from eating meat and from drinking wine, and from anything by which your brother is offended, or led astray, or weakened. 22 Do you have faith? It belongs to you, so hold it before God. Blessed is he who does not judge himself in that by which he is tested. 23 But he who discerns, if he eats, is condemned, because it is not of faith. For all that is not of faith is sin. ^{▼▼14:23 Discerns: That is, distinguishes between meats, and eats against his conscience, what he deems unclean.(Challoner)
,} ^{▼▼14:23 Of faith: By faith is here understood judgment and conscience: to act against which is always a sin.(Challoner)}