Romans 14
The Law of Liberty
1 Accept a anyone who is weak in faith, ▼▼Or weak in the Faith
,
c but don’t argue about doubtful issues. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, d but one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, e and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does, f because God has accepted him. g 4 Who are you to criticize h another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able ▼▼Other mss read For God has the power
to make him stand. 5 One person considers one day to be above another day. j Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind. k 6Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. ▼▼Other mss add but whoever does not observe the day, it is to the Lord that he does not observe it
Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; m and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. n 8 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. o 9 Christ died and came to life p for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living. q 10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God. ▼▼Other mss read of Christ
,
s 11 For it is written:As I live, says the Lord,every knee will bow to Me, t
and every tongue will give praise to God. u , v
12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. w
The Law of Love
13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. x Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. y 14(I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is ▼▼unclean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.
unclean in itself. aa Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. ab) 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer ▼▼walk: A term often used in a figurative way to mean "way of life" or "behavior"
walking according to love. ad Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat. ae 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, af 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, ag but righteousness, peace, and joy ah in the Holy Spirit. 18Whoever serves Christ ai in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. aj 19So then, we must pursue what promotes peace ak and what builds up one another. al 20Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is ▼▼clean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.
clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. an 21It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. ▼▼Other mss add or offended or weakened
22Do you have a conviction? ▼▼Lit have faith
Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. aq 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, ar because his eating is not from a conviction, ▼▼Or faith
and everything that is not from a conviction ▼▼Or faith
is sin.
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