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20 Don’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. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.[a] 22 You 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. 23 But 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.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 14:21 Some manuscripts read to stumble or be offended or be weakened.
  2. 14:23 Some manuscripts place the text of 16:25-27 here.

20 Do not, for the sake of food, tear down the work of God. All things indeed are [ceremonially] clean, but they are wrong for the person who eats and offends [another’s conscience in the process]. 21 It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine, or do anything that offends your brother and weakens him spiritually. 22 The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves. 23 But he who is uncertain [about eating a particular thing] is condemned if he eats, because he is not acting from faith. Whatever is not from faith is sin [whatever is done with doubt is sinful].

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20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(A) All food is clean,(B) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(C) 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.(D)

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(E) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(F) 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.