The Law of Love

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus (A)that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. (B)Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 (C)Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 (D)for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and (E)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in [a]these things (F)is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 (G)Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which (H)one may [b]edify another. 20 (I)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. (J)All things indeed are pure, (K)but it is evil for the man who eats with [c]offense. 21 It is good neither to eat (L)meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles [d]or is offended or is made weak. 22 [e]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. (M)Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for (N)whatever is not from faith is [f]sin.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:18 NU this thing
  2. Romans 14:19 build up
  3. Romans 14:20 A feeling of giving offense
  4. Romans 14:21 NU omits the rest of v. 21.
  5. Romans 14:22 NU The faith which you have—have
  6. Romans 14:23 M puts Rom. 16:25–27 here.

14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(A) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(B) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(C) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(D) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(E) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(F) but of righteousness, peace(G) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(H) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(I)

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(J) and to mutual edification.(K) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(L) All food is clean,(M) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(N) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.(O)

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(P) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(Q) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.