Romans 14
1 I now pass to another subject. Receive as a friend a man whose faith is weak, but not for the purpose of deciding mere matters of opinion.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.
2 One man's faith allows him to eat anything, while a man of weaker faith eats nothing but vegetables.
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him who eats certain food look down upon him who abstains from it, nor him who abstains from it find fault with him who eats it; for God has received both of them.
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
4 Who are you that you should find fault with the servant of another? Whether he stands or falls is a matter which concerns his own master. But stand he will; for the Master can give him power to stand.
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
5 One man esteems one day more highly than another; another esteems all days alike. Let every one be thoroughly convinced in his own mind.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He who regards the day as sacred, so regards it for the Master's sake; and he who eats certain food eats it for the Master's sake, for he gives thanks to God; and he who refrains from eating it refrains for the Master's sake, and he also gives thanks to God.
He that regardeth the day, regardeth [it] unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard [it]. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
7 For not one of us lives to himself, and not one dies to himself.
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8 If we live, we live to the Lord: if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
9 For this was the purpose of Christ's dying and coming to life--namely that He might be Lord both of the dead and the living.
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
10 But you, why do you find fault with your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon your brother? We shall all stand before God to be judged;
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 for it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to Me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall make confession to God.'"
For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So we see that every one of us will give account of himself to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us no longer judge one another; but, instead of that, you should come to this judgement--that we must not put a stumbling-block in our brother's path, nor anything to trip him up.
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way.
14 As one who lives in union with the Lord Jesus, I know and am certain that in its own nature no food is 'impure'; but if people regard any food as impure, to them it is.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.
15 If your brother is pained by the food you are eating, your conduct is no longer controlled by love. Take care lest, by the food you eat, you lead to ruin a man for whom Christ died.
But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let the boon which is yours in common be exposed to reproach.
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the Kingdom of God does not consist of eating and drinking, but of right conduct, peace and joy, through the Holy Spirit;
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 and whoever in this way devotedly serves Christ, God takes pleasure in him, and men highly commend him.
For he that in these things serveth Christ [is] acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Therefore let us aim at whatever makes for peace and mutual upbuilding of character.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 Do not for food's sake be throwing down God's work. All food is pure; but a man is in the wrong if his food is a snare to others.
For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 The right course is to forego eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall.
[It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 As for you and your faith, keep your faith to yourself in the presence of God. The man is to be congratulated who does not pronounce judgement on himself in what his actions sanction.
Hast thou faith? have [it] to thyself before God. Happy [is] he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 But he who has misgivings and yet eats meat is condemned already, because his conduct is not based on faith; for all conduct not based on faith is sinful.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.
