While Jesus typically appears in contexts of divine authority and final judgment throughout Romans, here he emerges as the unifying "Lord of both the dead and living" who enables mutual acceptance between feuding believers.
Romans 14
The Weak and the Strong
1Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.
2One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
3Don’t let him who eats despise him who doesn’t eat. Don’t let him who doesn’t eat judge him who eats, for God has accepted him.
4Who are you who judge another’s servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.
5One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn’t eat, to the Lord he doesn’t eat, and gives God thanks.
7For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself.
8For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
9For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11For it is written, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’”
12So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.
Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
13Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling.
14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
16Then don’t let your good be slandered,
17for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19So then, let’s follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
20Don’t overthrow God’s work for food’s sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating.
21It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
22Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves.
23But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.
24Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages,
25but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations;
26to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
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Theme
Paul addresses tensions between believers with different convictions about food laws and religious observances, distinguishing between 'weak' and 'strong' faith positions. He emphasizes that Christians should not judge one another over disputable matters, but rather prioritize love and unity by avoiding actions that might cause fellow believers to stumble. The chapter establishes the principle that Christian freedom must be exercised with consideration for others' consciences, as all believers ultimately belong to Christ and will answer to God alone.
Context
Following Paul's teaching on Christian obligations to governing authorities in chapter 13, this chapter addresses internal church relationships and prepares for his concluding remarks about ministry plans.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Accept the Weak in Faith Paul commands acceptance of those with weaker faith without disputing over opinions, particularly regarding dietary practices.
- 5-9 Personal Conviction Before God Each believer should be fully convinced in their own mind about disputable matters, as all actions are ultimately done unto the Lord.
- 10-12 Stop Judging One Another Paul prohibits mutual judgment since all believers will stand before Christ's judgment seat and give account to God.
- 13-16 Avoid Causing Others to Stumble Christians must prioritize love over personal freedom, refusing to destroy others through insensitive exercise of liberty.
- 17-21 Kingdom Priorities and Peace God's kingdom consists of righteousness, peace, and joy rather than food and drink, calling believers to build one another up.
- 22-23 Faith and Personal Conviction Believers should maintain their convictions privately before God, as acting against one's conscience constitutes sin.
The Weak and the Strong
14:1–14:12 epistle instruction contemplative
Paul addresses disputes between believers with strong and weak faith, emphasizing acceptance rather than judgment since all will ultimately answer to God.
person_contrast
While Jesus typically appears in contexts of divine authority and final judgment throughout Romans, here he emerges as the unifying "Lord of both the dead and living" who enables mutual acceptance between feuding believers.
Do Not Cause Another to Stumble
14:13–14:23 epistle instruction contemplative
Paul instructs believers to avoid causing others to stumble over disputable matters, prioritizing love and peace over personal freedom, since God's kingdom is about righteousness and joy.
person_contrast
Paul's radical redefinition emerges as "Lord Jesus" appears not as judge but as the authority who validates personal conscience, transforming typical judgment language into a framework for mutual accommodation.
Insights
Paul's radical redefinition emerges as "Lord Jesus" appears not as judge but as the authority who validates personal conscience, transforming typical judgment language into a framework for mutual accommodation.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Romans 14:4 2 references
Romans 14:5 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Corinthians 11:21 Lexical
For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken.
Matthew 25:15 Lexical
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his j…
1 Corinthians 7:7 Lexical
Yet I wish that all men were like me. However, each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that…
Romans 14:7 1 reference
Romans 14:8 2 references
Romans 14:9 1 reference
Romans 14:11 3 references
Lexicals 3
Ephesians 3:14 Lexical
For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Philippians 2:10 Lexical
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
Romans 11:4 Lexical
But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Romans 14:13 4 references
Lexicals 4
Romans 9:33 Lexical
even as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense; and no one who believes in him wi…
1 Peter 2:8 Lexical
and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were…
Acts 4:19 Lexical
But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge fo…
James 4:11 Lexical
Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the la…
Romans 14:14 3 references
Lexicals 3
2 Corinthians 10:7 Lexical
Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let hi…
Acts 5:36 Lexical
For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, j…
2 Timothy 1:12 Lexical
For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded…
Romans 14:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 John 3:16 Lexical
By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
John 11:50 Lexical
nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not…
Ephesians 5:2 Lexical
Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-sm…
Romans 5:8 Lexical
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Corinthians 5:14 Lexical
For the love of Christ compels us; because we judge thus: that one died for all, therefore all died.
Romans 14:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
Romans 15:13 Lexical
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Ho…
John 6:55 Lexical
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Colossians 2:16 Lexical
Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
Galatians 5:22 Lexical
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
1 Thessalonians 1:6 Lexical
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
Romans 14:21 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Corinthians 8:13 Lexical
Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumb…
Matthew 6:25 Lexical
Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body,…
1 Corinthians 10:7 Lexical
Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
Romans 14:22 1 reference
Romans 14:23 1 reference
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