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13 So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

14 I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

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]

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Footnotes

  1. 14:21 Some manuscripts read to stumble or be offended or be weakened.

13 Therefore oun let us krinō stop mēketi passing judgment on krinō one allēlōn another , but alla resolve krinō this houtos instead mallon, never to put tithēmi an obstacle proskomma or ē a trap skandalon in ho a brother’ s adelphos way.

14 I know oida and kai am convinced peithō in en the Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous that hoti nothing oudeis is unclean koinos in dia itself heautou; however ei mē, to the ho one who considers logizomai something tis to be eimi unclean koinos, to him ekeinos it is unclean koinos. 15 For gar if ei your sy brother adelphos is being hurt lypeō by dia what you eat brōma, · ho you are peripateō no ouketi longer walking peripateō in kata love agapē. Do apollymi not destroy apollymi by ho what you sy eat brōma that ekeinos brother for hyper whom hos Christ Christos died apothnēskō. 16 Therefore oun do not let what ho you hymeis regard as good agathos be spoken blasphēmeō of as evil . 17 For gar the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos is eimi not ou a matter of eating brōsis and kai drinking posis, but alla of righteousness dikaiosynē and kai peace eirēnē and kai joy chara in en the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma. 18 For gar whoever ho serves douleuō Christ Christos in en this houtos way · ho is pleasing euarestos to ho God theos and kai approved dokimos by ho men anthrōpos. 19 So ara then oun let us pursue diōkō what ho makes for ho peace eirēnē and kai · ho for ho mutual eis upbuilding oikodomē. · ho 20 Do not , for the sake of food brōma, destroy katalyō the ho work ergon of ho God theos. All pas food is indeed men clean katharos, but alla it is wrong kakos to cause dia · ho another anthrōpos to stumble proskomma by ho what you eat esthiō. 21 It is good kalos · ho not to eat esthiō meat kreas or mēde to drink pinō wine oinos or mēde to do anything that en makes · ho your sy brother adelphos stumble proskoptō.

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