Romans 14:14-15:13

Contemporary English Version

¹⁴ The Lord Jesus has made it clear to me that God considers all foods fit to eat. But if you think some foods are unfit to eat, then for you they are not fit.

¹⁵ If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for. ¹⁶ Don't let your right to eat bring shame to Christ. ¹⁷ God's kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people. ¹⁹ We should try^[a] to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith.

²⁰ Don't let your appetite destroy what God has done. All foods are fit to eat, but it is wrong to cause problems for others by what you eat. ²¹ It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord. ²² What you believe about these things should be kept between you and God. You are fortunate, if your actions don't make you have doubts. ²³ But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin.

Please Others and Not Yourself

15 If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. ² We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. ^3 (A) Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, “The people who insulted you also insulted me.” ^4 (B) And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. ⁵ God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. ⁶ Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Good News Is for Jews and Gentiles

⁷ Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. ⁸ I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, ^9 (C) so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them. It is just as the Scriptures say,

^10 (D) The Scriptures also say to the Gentiles, “Come and celebrate with God's people.”

^11 (E) Again the Scriptures say,

^12 (F) Isaiah says,

¹³ I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.