ROM 14:13-23

The Law of Love

13No longer therefore let us judge one another — but rather determine this: not to put any stumbling block or snare before a brother. [14:14] I know and have been persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean through itself — only to the one reckoning anything to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. [14:15] For if your brother is grieved on account of food, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not by your food destroy that one for whom Christ died. [14:16] Therefore do not let your good be denigrated. [14:17] For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [14:18] For the one serving Christ in this thing is well-pleasing to God and approved by men. [14:19] So then, let us pursue the things of peace and the things of edification among each other. [14:20] Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil to the man who eats through a stumbling block. [14:21] It is good neither to eat meat nor to drink wine, nor anything in which your brother stumbles or is led into sin or is weak. [14:22] You yourself — keep the faith that you have to yourself before God. Blessed is the one not judging himself in what he approves. [14:23] But the one doubting, if he shall eat, has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and everything that is not of faith is sin.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Roman urban context, communal meals were central to social and religious life, often reflecting status, purity, and allegiance. Jewish-Christians in Rome struggled with dietary laws, viewing certain foods as (common/impure), while Gentile-Christians saw all food as permissible. Paul addresses this tension by emphasizing love over ritual purity. The (stumbling block) metaphor would resonate deeply in a culture where honor-shame dynamics governed relationships. To cause a brother to stumble was to disrupt communal harmony, a grave offense in Roman and Jewish contexts alike. Paul’s appeal to (edification) reflects the Greco-Roman ideal of building up the community, a value shared in both Stoic philosophy and Jewish ethics. The kingdom of God, Paul argues, is not about dietary disputes but righteousness, peace, and joy—values that transcend cultural divisions. This passage navigates the delicate balance between personal freedom and communal responsibility, urging restraint for the sake of unity.

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How other translations render this

ROM 14:13

KJV: 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.
BSB: Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brotherʼs way.
Koinōnos: No longer therefore let us judge one another — but rather determine this: not to put any stumbling block or snare before a brother.

ROM 14:14

KJV: 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: I know and have been persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean through itself — only to the one reckoning anything to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.

ROM 14:15

KJV: But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: For if your brother is grieved on account of food, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not by your food destroy that one for whom Christ died.

ROM 14:16

KJV: Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
BSB: Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.
Koinōnos: Therefore do not let your good be denigrated.

ROM 14:17

KJV: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
BSB: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Koinōnos: For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

ROM 14:18

KJV: For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
BSB: For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Koinōnos: For the one serving Christ in this thing is well-pleasing to God and approved by men.

ROM 14:19

KJV: Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
BSB: So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Koinōnos: So then, let us pursue the things of peace and the things of edification among each other.

ROM 14:20

KJV: For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: Do not for the sake of food destroy the work of God. All things indeed are clean, but it is evil to the man who eats through a stumbling block.

ROM 14:21

KJV: 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.
BSB: It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
Koinōnos: It is good neither to eat meat nor to drink wine, nor anything in which your brother stumbles or is led into sin or is weak.

ROM 14:22

KJV: Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
BSB: Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
Koinōnos: You yourself — keep the faith that you have to yourself before God. Blessed is the one not judging himself in what he approves.

ROM 14:23

KJV: And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: But the one doubting, if he shall eat, has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and everything that is not of faith is sin.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ROM 14:13

[any] stumbling block:The word translated 'stumbling block' refers to an obstacle that causes someone to trip or fall, often implying a moral or spiritual downfall rather than just a physical one.

ROM 14:14

unclean:The word translated 'unclean' here means common or defiled, referring to something not set apart for sacred use or ritually impure, rather than merely dirty.

ROM 14:15

is grieved,:The word translated 'is grieved' carries a strong sense of deep sorrow, distress, or pain, indicating a significant emotional impact.

ROM 14:19

for edification:The word translated 'for edification' literally means 'building up' or 'construction,' suggesting the strengthening and growth of individuals and the community.