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Chapter 14

The Weak and the Strong in the Community.[a] Welcome anyone whose faith is weak, but do not get into arguments about doubts. One person may have the faith to eat any kind of food, whereas a weak person may eat only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not look contemptuously on the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed both. What right do you have to pass judgment on someone else’s servant? The master will determine whether that servant will stand or fall. But the servant will be upheld, for the Lord has the power to enable him to stand.

One person may consider one day to be more sacred than another, while another may judge all days to be alike. Let everyone be convinced in his own beliefs. Whoever observes the day observes it for the Lord. Also, the one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and thereby also gives thanks to God.

None of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. It was for this reason that Christ died and came to life again: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

10 Why then do you pass judgment on your brother? Or why do you despise your brother? All of us will have to stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord,
    every knee shall bow before me,
    and every tongue shall give praise to God.”

12 Consideration for the Weak Conscience. So, then, each one of us will have to give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore, let us cease passing judgment on one another, but rather judge never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know, and am convinced in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. However, it is unclean for someone who believes it to be unclean.

15 If your brother is seriously offended by what you eat, then you are no longer being guided by love. Do not allow the food that you eat to destroy anyone for whom Christ died. 16 Do not let what you think is good to become what others say is evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 The one who serves Christ in such things is pleasing to God and respected by others.

19 Let us[b] then pursue the ways that lead to peace and mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to cause others to fall by what you eat. 21 It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes your brother to stumble.

22 Whatever faith you have, keep it between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to condemn himself because of what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act from faith. Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:1 Two groups or tendencies are already manifested in the early Christian communities. Some cling, though not without some scruples, to the religious practices in which they have been reared: refusal of sacrificed meats or abstentions from foods on certain days—and these may be termed “the weak.” Others, in the same freedom of the Gospel, criticize the former—and these may be termed “the strong.” The text evokes a situation like that in Corinth (1 Cor 8:4-13).
    Paul has always been categorically opposed to confusing grace with the Law; he has refused to impose either Jewish or Gentile practices on new converts and has declared that all ancient religious practices are excluded as a way to gain justification. He is undoubtedly also aware of the teaching of Jesus concerning what is clean and unclean (Mk 7:1-23). Moreover, he has never refused to allow Christians of Jewish origin to esteem attachment to their religious tradition. He has put clamps on the new freedom only when such freedom turns into provocative pretense and an attitude of superiority.
    Freedom is not given to enable someone to criticize others; it does not consist in remonstrating with others about theory or comportment. No principle of freedom can lead to an attitude of scorn or incomprehension. Christians maintain a desire for the salvation of all, and regard everyone as a brother or sister for whom Christ died. They are open to safeguard the relations and exchanges of a varied and pluralist community. Profound respect for the conscience of each person is required, as is the refusal to judge one another. Most important, all must have the freedom to act according to their consciences before God (see Acts 15).
  2. Romans 14:19 Let us: some manuscripts and Fathers of the Church have: “We.”

The Law of Liberty

14 Receive(A) one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he (B)may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and (C)let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. (D)Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

(E)One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who (F)observes the day, observes it to the Lord; [a]and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for (G)he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For (H)none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we (I)live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For (J)to this end Christ died [b]and rose and lived again, that He might be (K)Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For (L)we shall all stand before the judgment seat of [c]Christ. 11 For it is written:

(M)As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then (N)each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another [d]anymore, but rather resolve this, (O)not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The Law of Love

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus (P)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. (Q)Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 (R)Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 (S)for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and (T)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in [e]these things (U)is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 (V)Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which (W)one may [f]edify another. 20 (X)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. (Y)All things indeed are pure, (Z)but it is evil for the man who eats with [g]offense. 21 It is good neither to eat (AA)meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles [h]or is offended or is made weak. 22 [i]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. (AB)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 (AC)whatever is not from faith is [j]sin.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:6 NU omits the rest of this sentence.
  2. Romans 14:9 NU omits and rose
  3. Romans 14:10 NU God
  4. Romans 14:13 any longer
  5. Romans 14:18 NU this thing
  6. Romans 14:19 build up
  7. Romans 14:20 A feeling of giving offense
  8. Romans 14:21 NU omits the rest of v. 21.
  9. Romans 14:22 NU The faith which you have—have
  10. Romans 14:23 M puts Rom. 16:25–27 here.

不可评断弟兄

14 信心软弱的,你们要接纳,不同的意见,不要争论。 有人信什么都可吃;但那软弱的,只吃蔬菜。 吃的人不可轻看不吃的人;不吃的人也不可评断吃的人,因为 神已经接纳他了。 你是谁,竟评断别人的仆人呢?他或站立或跌倒,自有他的主人在,而且他也必会站立,因为主能使他站稳。 有人看这日比那日强;有人看日日都是一样。只是各人要在自己的心意上坚定。 守日子的人是为主守的。吃的人是为主吃的,因他感谢 神;不吃的人是为主不吃的,他也感谢 神。

我们没有一个人为自己而活,也没有一个人为自己而死。 我们若活,是为主而活;我们若死,是为主而死。所以,我们或死或活总是主的人。 为此,基督死了,又活了,为要作死人和活人的主。 10 可是你,你为什么评断弟兄呢?你又为什么轻看弟兄呢?因我们都要站在 神的审判台前。 11 经上写着:

“主说,我指着我的永生起誓:
万膝必向我跪拜;
万口必称颂 神。”

12 这样看来,我们各人一定要把自己的事在 神面前[a]交代。

不可使弟兄跌倒

13 所以,我们不可再彼此评断,宁可决意不给弟兄放置障碍或绊脚石。 14 我凭着主耶稣确知深信,凡物本来没有不洁净的,除非人以为不洁净的,在他就不洁净了。 15 你若因食物使弟兄忧愁,就不是按着爱心行事。基督已经为他死,你不可因你的食物使他败坏。 16 所以,不可让你们的善被人毁谤。 17 因为 神的国不在乎饮食,而在乎公义、和平及圣灵中的喜乐[b] 18 凡这样服侍基督的,就为 神所喜悦,又为人所赞许。 19 所以,我们务要追求[c]和平与彼此造就的事。 20 不可因食物毁坏 神的工作。一切都是洁净的,但有人因食物使人跌倒,这在他就是恶了。 21 无论是吃肉是喝酒,是什么别的事,使弟兄跌倒,一概不做,才是善的。 22 你有信心,就要在 神面前持守。人能在自己以为可行的事上不自责就有福了。 23 若有人疑惑而吃的,就被定罪,因为他吃不是出于信心。凡不出于信心的都是罪。

Footnotes

  1. 14.12 有古卷没有“在 神面前”。
  2. 14.17 “公义…喜乐”或译“圣灵中的公义、和平及喜乐”。
  3. 14.19 “务要追求”:有古卷是“追求”。

The Weak and the Strong

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak,(A) without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.(B) The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt(C) the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge(D) the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?(E) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another;(F) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God;(G) and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone,(H) and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.(I) For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life(J) so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.(K)

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt?(L) For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.(M) 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’(N) says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b](O)

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.(P)

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment(Q) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.(R) 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(S) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(T) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(U) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(V) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(W) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(X) but of righteousness, peace(Y) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(Z) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(AA)

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(AB) and to mutual edification.(AC) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(AD) All food is clean,(AE) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(AF) 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.(AG)

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

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:10 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verses 13, 15 and 21.
  2. Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23
  3. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.