Romans 14 - 1 Corinthians 2

New King James Version

The Law of Liberty

14 Receive^(A) one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. ² For one believes he ^(B)may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ 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. ^4 (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.

^5 (E)One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ 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. ⁷ For ^(H)none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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:

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.

Bearing Others’ Burdens

15 We ^(AD)then who are strong ought to bear with the ^[k]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ^2 (AE)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to ^[l]edification. ^3 (AF)For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ^(AG)“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” ⁴ For ^(AH)whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the ^[m]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ^5 (AI)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may ^(AJ)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

⁷ Therefore ^(AK)receive one another, just ^(AL)as Christ also received ^[n]us, to the glory of God. ⁸ Now I say that ^(AM)Jesus Christ has become a ^[o]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, ^(AN)to confirm the promises made to the fathers, ⁹ and ^(AO)that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

¹⁰ And again he says:

¹¹ And again:

¹² And again, Isaiah says:

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all ^(AT)joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

¹⁴ Now ^(AU)I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, ^(AV)filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish ^[p]one another. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, ^(AW)because of the grace given to me by God, ¹⁶ that ^(AX)I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the ^(AY)offering ^[q]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus ^(AZ)in the things which pertain to God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak of any of those things ^(BA)which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, ^(BB)to make the Gentiles obedient— ^19 (BC)in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, ^(BD)lest I should build on another man’s foundation, ²¹ but as it is written:

Plan to Visit Rome

²² For this reason ^(BF)I also have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now no longer having a place in these parts, and ^(BG)having a great desire these many years to come to you, ²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, ^[r]I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, ^(BH)and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may ^(BI)enjoy your company for a while. ²⁵ But now ^(BJ)I am going to Jerusalem to ^[s]minister to the saints. ²⁶ For ^(BK)it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For ^(BL)if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, ^(BM)their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them ^(BN)this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ^29 (BO)But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing ^[t]of the gospel of Christ.

³⁰ Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and ^(BP)through the love of the Spirit, ^(BQ)that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, ^31 (BR)that I may be delivered from those in Judea who ^[u]do not believe, and that ^(BS)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ^32 (BT)that I may come to you with joy ^(BU)by the will of God, and may ^(BV)be refreshed together with you. ³³ Now ^(BW)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Sister Phoebe Commended

16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in ^(BX)Cenchrea, ^2 (BY)that you may receive her in the Lord ^(BZ)in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Greeting Roman Saints

³ Greet ^(CA)Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. ⁵ Likewise greet ^(CB)the church that is in their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is ^(CC)the firstfruits of ^[v]Achaia to Christ. ⁶ Greet Mary, who labored much for us. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the ^(CD)apostles, who also ^(CE)were in Christ before me.

⁸ Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my ^[w]countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

¹² Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus, ^(CF)chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. ¹⁵ Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

^16 (CG)Greet one another with a holy kiss. ^[x]The churches of Christ greet you.

Avoid Divisive Persons

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brethren, note those ^(CH)who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and ^(CI)avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord ^[y]Jesus Christ, but ^(CJ)their own belly, and ^(CK)by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. ¹⁹ For ^(CL)your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be ^(CM)wise in what is good, and ^[z]simple concerning evil. ²⁰ And ^(CN)the God of peace ^(CO)will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

^(CP)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Greetings from Paul’s Friends

^21 (CQ)Timothy, my fellow worker, and ^(CR)Lucius, ^(CS)Jason, and ^(CT)Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

²² I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

^23 (CU)Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. ^(CV)Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. ^24 (CW)The^[aa] grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Benediction

^25 [ab]Now ^(CX)to Him who is able to establish you ^(CY)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ^(CZ)according to the revelation of the mystery ^(DA)kept secret since the world began ²⁶ but ^(DB)now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for ^(DC)obedience to the faith— ²⁷ to ^(DD)God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, ^(DE)called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ ^(DF)through the will of God, and ^(DG)Sosthenes our brother,

² To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who ^(DH)are ^[ac]sanctified in Christ Jesus, ^(DI)called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ ^(DJ)our Lord, ^(DK)both theirs and ours:

^3 (DL)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Gifts at Corinth

^4 (DM)I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, ⁵ that you were enriched in everything by Him ^(DN)in all ^[ad]utterance and all knowledge, ⁶ even as ^(DO)the testimony of Christ was confirmed ^[ae]in you, ⁷ so that you come short in no gift, eagerly ^(DP)waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^8 (DQ)who will also confirm you to the end, ^(DR)that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^9 (DS)God is faithful, by whom you were called into ^(DT)the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sectarianism Is Sin

¹⁰ Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(DU)that you all ^[af]speak the same thing, and that there be no ^[ag]divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are ^[ah]contentions among you. ¹² Now I say this, that ^(DV)each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of ^(DW)Apollos,” or “I am of ^(DX)Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” ^13 (DY)Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized ^(DZ)none of you except ^(EA)Crispus and ^(EB)Gaius, ¹⁵ lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. ¹⁶ Yes, I also baptized the household of ^(EC)Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, ^(ED)not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God^(EE)

¹⁸ For the ^[ai]message of the cross is ^(EF)foolishness to ^(EG)those who are perishing, but to us ^(EH)who are being saved it is the ^(EI)power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

^20 (EK)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the ^[aj]disputer of this age? ^(EL)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the ^(EM)wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For ^(EN)Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, ^(EO)to the Jews a ^[ak]stumbling block and to the ^[al]Greeks ^(EP)foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(EQ)the power of God and ^(ER)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Glory Only in the Lord

²⁶ For ^[am]you see your calling, brethren, ^(ES)that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many ^[an]noble, are called. ²⁷ But ^(ET)God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the ^[ao]base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and ^(EU)righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, ^(EV)“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

Christ Crucified

2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the ^[ap]testimony of God. ² For I determined not to know anything among you ^(EW)except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ^3 (EX)I was with you ^(EY)in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. ⁴ And my speech and my preaching ^(EZ)were not with persuasive words of ^[aq]human wisdom, ^(FA)but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the ^(FB)power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^[ar]ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for ^(FC)had they known, they would not have ^(FD)crucified the Lord of glory.

⁹ But as it is written:

¹⁰ But ^(FF)God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the ^(FG)spirit of the man which is in him? ^(FH)Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but ^(FI)the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the ^[as]Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ^14 (FJ)But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For ^(FK)“who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” ^(FL)But we have the mind of Christ.