Go deeper without the clutter. Bible Gateway Plus keeps your study focused—Scripture first, with trusted resources close at hand.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Romans 14
New International Version

### The Weak and the Strong

14 Accept the one whose faith is weak,(A) without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.(B) 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt(C) the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge(D) the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?(E) To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another;(F) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God;(G) and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone,(H) and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.(I) 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life(J) so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.(K)

10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt?(L) For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.(M) 11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’(N) says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b](O)

12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.(P)

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment(Q) on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.(R) 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(S) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(T) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(U) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(V) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(W) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(X) but of righteousness, peace(Y) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(Z) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(AA)

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(AB) and to mutual edification.(AC) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(AD) All food is clean,(AE) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(AF) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.(AG)

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(AH) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(AI) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[c]

#### Footnotes

1. Romans 14:10 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family; also in verses 13, 15 and 21.
2. Romans 14:11 Isaiah 45:23
3. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.

#### Cross references

1. Romans 14:1 : Ro 15:1; 1Co 8:9-12; 9:22
2. Romans 14:2 : ver 14
3. Romans 14:3 : ver 10; Lk 18:9
4. Romans 14:3 : ver 10, 13; Col 2:16
5. Romans 14:4 : S Mt 7:1
6. Romans 14:5 : Gal 4:10; Col 2:16
7. Romans 14:6 : S Mt 14:19; 1Co 10:30, 31; 1Ti 4:3, 4
8. Romans 14:7 : 2Co 5:15; Gal 2:20
9. Romans 14:8 : Php 1:20
10. Romans 14:9 : Rev 1:18; 2:8
11. Romans 14:9 : S Ac 10:42; 2Co 5:15
12. Romans 14:10 : ver 3; S Mt 7:1
13. Romans 14:10 : S 2Co 5:10
14. Romans 14:11 : Isa 49:18
15. Romans 14:11 : Isa 45:23; Php 2:10, 11
16. Romans 14:12 : Mt 12:36; 1Pe 4:5
17. Romans 14:13 : ver 1; S Mt 7:1
18. Romans 14:13 : S 2Co 6:3
19. Romans 14:14 : ver 20; S Ac 10:15
20. Romans 14:14 : 1Co 8:7
21. Romans 14:15 : Eph 5:2
22. Romans 14:15 : ver 20; 1Co 8:11
23. Romans 14:16 : 1Co 10:30
24. Romans 14:17 : 1Co 8:8
25. Romans 14:17 : Isa 32:17
26. Romans 14:17 : Ro 15:13; Gal 5:22
27. Romans 14:18 : Lk 2:52; Ac 24:16; 2Co 8:21
28. Romans 14:19 : Ps 34:14; Ro 12:18; 1Co 7:15; 2Ti 2:22; Heb 12:14
29. Romans 14:19 : Ro 15:2; 1Co 14:3-5, 12, 17, 26; 2Co 12:19; Eph 4:12, 29
30. Romans 14:20 : ver 15
31. Romans 14:20 : ver 14; S Ac 10:15
32. Romans 14:20 : ver 13; 1Co 8:9-12
33. Romans 14:21 : S Mt 5:29
34. Romans 14:22 : 1Jn 3:21
35. Romans 14:23 : ver 5

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible, Gilded Edges, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Journal the Word Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Reflect, Take Notes, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $27.99
Save: $12.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Radiant Virtues Bible: A Beautiful Word Collection, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Explore the virtues of faith, hope, and love
Retail: $69.98
Our Price: $48.99
Save: $20.99 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles