Romans 14

The Law of Liberty

^{Tools
1} Accept^(A) anyone who is weak in faith,^(a)^(B) but don’t argue about doubtful issues. ^{Tools
2} One person believes he may eat anything,^(C) but one who is weak eats only vegetables. ^{Tools
3} One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat,^(D) and one who does not eat must not criticize one who does,^(E) because God has accepted him.^(F) ^{Tools
4} Who are you to criticize^(G) another’s household slave? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand. For the Lord is able^(b) to make him stand.

^{Tools
5} One person considers one day to be above another day.^(H) Someone else considers every day to be the same. Each one must be fully convinced in his own mind.^(I) ^{Tools
6} Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord.^(c) Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;^(J) and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, yet he thanks God. ^{Tools
7} For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.^(K) ^{Tools
8} If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.^(L) ^{Tools
9} Christ died and came to life^(M) for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.^(N) ^{Tools
10} But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God.^(d)^(O) ^{Tools
11} For it is written:

As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to Me,^(P)
and every tongue will give praise to God.^(Q)^(e)

^{Tools
12} So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.^(R)

The Law of Love

^{Tools
13} Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another.^(S) Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way.^(T) ^{Tools
14} (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.^(U) Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.^(V)) ^{Tools
15} For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love.^(W) Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat.^(X) ^{Tools
16} Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,^(Y) ^{Tools
17} for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,^(Z) but righteousness, peace, and joy^(AA) in the Holy Spirit. ^{Tools
18} Whoever serves Christ^(AB) in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men.^(AC)

^{Tools
19} So then, we must pursue what promotes peace^(AD) and what builds up one another.^(AE) ^{Tools
20} Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats.^(AF) ^{Tools
21} It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.^(f) ^{Tools
22} Do you have a conviction?^(g) Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed.^(AG) ^{Tools
23} But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats,^(AH) because his eating is not from a conviction,^(h) and everything that is not from a conviction⁽ⁱ⁾ is sin.

Footnotes:

a. Romans 14:1: Or weak in the Faith

b. Romans 14:4: Other mss read For God has the power

c. Romans 14:6: Other mss add but whoever does not observe the day, it is to the Lord that he does not observe it

d. Romans 14:10: Other mss read of Christ

e. Romans 14:11: Is 45:23; 49:18

f. Romans 14:21: Other mss add or offended or weakened

g. Romans 14:22: Lit have faith

h. Romans 14:23: Or faith

i. Romans 14:23: Or faith

Cross references:

A. Romans 14:1: Acts 28:2; Romans 11:15; Romans 12:3; Romans 15:7

B. Romans 14:1: Romans 15:1; 1 Corinthians 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 9:22

C. Romans 14:2: Romans 14:14

D. Romans 14:3: Luke 18:9

E. Romans 14:3: Colossians 2:16

F. Romans 14:3: Acts 28:2; Romans 11:15; Romans 15:7

G. Romans 14:4: Romans 9:20

H. Romans 14:5: Galatians 4:10

I. Romans 14:5: Luke 1:1; Romans 4:21

J. Romans 14:6: Matthew 14:19; 1 Corinthians 10:30

K. Romans 14:7: Romans 8:38; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Philippians 1:20

L. Romans 14:8: Luke 20:38; Philippians 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:10

M. Romans 14:9: Revelation 1:18; Revelation 2:8

N. Romans 14:9: Matthew 28:18; John 12:24; Philippians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:10

O. Romans 14:10: Romans 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:10

P. Romans 14:11: Philippians 2:10-11

Q. Romans 14:11: Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 49:18

R. Romans 14:12: Matthew 12:36; Matthew 16:27; 1 Peter 4:5

S. Romans 14:13: Matthew 7:1; Romans 14:3

T. Romans 14:13: 1 Corinthians 8:13

U. Romans 14:14: Acts 10:15; Romans 14:2; Romans 14:20

V. Romans 14:14: 1 Corinthians 8:7

W. Romans 14:15: Ephesians 5:2

X. Romans 14:15: 1 Corinthians 8:11

Y. Romans 14:16: 1 Corinthians 10:30

Z. Romans 14:17: 1 Corinthians 8:8

AA. Romans 14:17: Romans 15:13

AB. Romans 14:18: Romans 16:18

AC. Romans 14:18: 2 Corinthians 8:21; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 2:12

AD. Romans 14:19: Psalm 34:14; Romans 12:18; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Hebrews 12:14

AE. Romans 14:19: Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 10:23; 1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 2 Corinthians 12:19; Ephesians 4:12; Ephesians 4:29

AF. Romans 14:20: 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

AG. Romans 14:22: 1 John 3:21

AH. Romans 14:23: Romans 14:5