one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes
over opinions. 2 One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak
eats only vegetables. 3 Don’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 received
him. 4 Who 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.
5 One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day
alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. 6 He 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.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. 8 For 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. 9 For to this end Christ died, rose,
and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But 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. 11 For it is written,
“‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess to God.’”
12 So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore 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. 14 I 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. 15 Yet 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. 16 Then don’t let your good be slandered, 17 for the
Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy
in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is
acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then, let us follow after
things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
20 Don’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. 21 It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by
which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who
doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves. 23 But he who doubts is
condemned if he eats, because it isn’t of faith; and whatever is not of faith
is sin.
24 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery
which has been kept secret through long ages, 25 but 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;
26 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory
forever! Amen.*1
1 TR places verses 24-26 after Romans 16:24 as verses
25-27.
World English Bible - Public Domain
