Focused Passage

Romans 14:13-23

Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience

Paul moves from accepting the weak without quarrels, to forbidding contempt and judgment, to grounding conscience differences in living to the Lord, to the universal accountability of God's judgment seat, to the call not to place stumbling blocks before others, to love-limited liberty, to the kingdom priority of righteousness, peace, and joy, and finally to the necessity of acting from faith.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

15 If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.

16 Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

18 For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.

21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

22 Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

23 But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Original words

Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction vvv Μηκέτι G3371 Adverb let us stop judging κρίνωμεν G2919 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural one another ἀλλήλους G240 Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural Instead ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction . . . μᾶλλον G3123 Adverb make up your mind κρίνατε G2919 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular not μὴ G3361 Adverb - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular to put τιθέναι G5087 Verb - Present Infinitive Active [any] stumbling block πρόσκομμα G4348 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular or G2228 Conjunction obstacle σκάνδαλον G4625 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular in your brother’s way ἀδελφῷ G80 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 14

Original words

I am convinced Οἶδα G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction fully persuaded πέπεισμαι G3982 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] Lord Κυρίῳ G2962 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction nothing [is] οὐδὲν G3762 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular unclean κοινὸν G2839 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular in δι’ G1223 Preposition itself ἑαυτοῦ G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Singular But if εἰ G1487 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb [anyone] τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular regards λογιζομένῳ G3049 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Singular something τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular as εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active unclean κοινὸν G2839 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular [then] for him ἐκείνῳ G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular [it is] unclean κοινόν G2839 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Verse 15

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction If εἰ G1487 Conjunction your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφός G80 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is distressed λυπεῖται G3076 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular by διὰ G1223 Preposition [what you eat] βρῶμα G1033 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb you are no longer acting περιπατεῖς G4043 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular in κατὰ G2596 Preposition love ἀγάπην G26 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular {Do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb by τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular [your eating] βρώματί G1033 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular destroy ἀπόλλυε G622 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular [brother] ἐκεῖνον G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular for ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition whom οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular Christ Χριστὸς G5547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular died ἀπέθανεν G599 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 16

Original words

{Do} not {allow} Μὴ G3361 Adverb what τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular you [consider] ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural good ἀγαθόν G18 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular then οὖν G3767 Conjunction to be spoken of as evil βλασφημείσθω G987 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 17

Original words

For γάρ G1063 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλεία G932 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not [a matter of] οὐ G3756 Adverb eating βρῶσις G1035 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction drinking πόσις G4213 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction of righteousness δικαιοσύνη G1343 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction peace εἰρήνη G1515 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction joy χαρὰ G5479 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] Holy Ἁγίῳ G40 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεύματι G4151 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Verse 18

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular serves δουλεύων G1398 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστῷ G5547 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition this way τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular [is] pleasing εὐάρεστος G2101 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction approved δόκιμος G1384 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural by men ἀνθρώποις G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 19

Original words

So Ἄρα G686 Conjunction then οὖν G3767 Conjunction let us pursue διώκωμεν* G1377 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural what leads to τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular peace εἰρήνης G1515 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv εἰς G1519 Preposition mutual ἀλλήλους G240 Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular edification οἰκοδομῆς G3619 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 20

Original words

{Do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb destroy κατάλυε G2647 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular work ἔργον G2041 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular for the sake of ἕνεκεν G1752 Preposition food βρώματος G1033 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - μὲν G3303 Conjunction All [food is] πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural clean καθαρά G2513 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction [it is] wrong κακὸν G2556 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular for a man ἀνθρώπῳ G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular vvv διὰ G1223 Preposition to let his eating be ἐσθίοντι G2068 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular a stumbling block προσκόμματος G4348 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 21

Original words

[It is] better καλὸν G2570 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular not μὴ G3361 Adverb - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular to eat φαγεῖν G5315 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active meat κρέα G2907 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural [or] μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction drink πιεῖν G4095 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active wine οἶνον G3631 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [or to do anything] μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction vvv ἐν G1722 Preposition [to cause] G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφός G80 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular to stumble προσκόπτει G4350 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • SBL, BYZ, and TR include or to be hindered or weakened.
Verse 22

Original words

Keep ἔχε G2192 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular your Σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular belief πίστιν G4102 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [about such matters] ἣν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular . . . ἔχεις G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular between κατὰ G2596 Preposition yourself σεαυτὸν G4572 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular [and] ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Blessed [is] μακάριος G3107 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular the [one who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb does not condemn κρίνων G2919 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular himself ἑαυτὸν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular by ἐν G1722 Preposition what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular he approves δοκιμάζει G1381 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally Keep the faith that you have to yourself before God
Verse 23

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction the [one who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular has doubts διακρινόμενος G1252 Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular is condemned κατακέκριται G2632 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular if ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction he eats φάγῃ G5315 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular because [his eating is] ὅτι G3754 Conjunction not οὐκ G3756 Adverb from ἐκ G1537 Preposition faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and δὲ G1161 Conjunction everything πᾶν G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular that [is] G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular not οὐκ G3756 Adverb from ἐκ G1537 Preposition faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular sin ἁμαρτία G266 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Some manuscripts place the text of Romans 16:25–27 here.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.