Romans 14:13-21
New English Translation
Exhortation for the Strong not to Destroy the Weak
13 Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.[a] 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. 15 For if your brother or sister[b] is distressed because of what you eat,[c] you are no longer walking in love.[d] Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you consider good[e] be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.[f]
19 So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean,[g] it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble.[h]
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- Romans 14:13 tn Grk “brother.”
- Romans 14:15 tn Grk “brother.”
- Romans 14:15 tn Grk “on account of food.”
- Romans 14:15 tn Grk “according to love.”
- Romans 14:16 tn Grk “do not let your good.”
- Romans 14:18 tn Grk “by men,” but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is generic here (“people”) since the contrast in context is between God and humanity.
- Romans 14:20 sn Here clean refers to food being ceremonially clean.
- Romans 14:21 tc A large number of mss, some of them quite significant (P46vid א2 B D F G Ψ 0209 33 1881 M lat sa), read “or to be offended or to be made weak” after “to stumble.” The shorter reading “to stumble” is found only in Alexandrian mss (א* A C 048 81 945 1506 1739 bo). Although external evidence favors inclusion, internal evidence points to a scribal expansion, perhaps reminiscent of 1 Cor 8:11-13. The shorter reading is therefore preferred.
Romans 14:13-21
Legacy Standard Bible
13 Therefore let us not (A)judge one another anymore, but rather judge this—(B)not to put a stumbling block or offense before a brother. 14 I know and am convinced [a]in the Lord Jesus that (C)nothing is defiled in itself; but to him who (D)considers anything to be defiled, to him it is defiled. 15 For if because of food your brother is grieved, you are no longer (E)walking according to love. (F)Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore (G)do not let what is for you a good thing be [b]slandered; 17 for the kingdom of God (H)is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and (I)peace and (J)joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way (K)serves Christ is (L)pleasing to God and approved by men. 19 So then [c]let us (M)pursue the things which make for peace and the (N)building up of one another. 20 (O)Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. (P)All things indeed are clean, but (Q)they are evil for the man who eats [d]and gives offense. 21 (R)It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
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- Romans 14:14 Lit through
- Romans 14:16 Or blasphemed
- Romans 14:19 Some mss we pursue
- Romans 14:20 Lit through stumbling, cf. 14:13, 21
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