Romans 14

Romans 14:1

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

There are amongst you many new converts, which though they have embraced the Christian faith, yet are but weak and unsettled: make much of such, and take them to your further instruction; but trouble them not with controversies and doubtful disputations about things indifferent, but give much scope and latitude to them in these regards.

Romans 14:2

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

For one believeth, that, through the general allowance of God, he may lawfully eat any meat whatsoever: another, who is weak, makes scruple of eating flesh, and contents himself with feeding on herbs and roots, and such other liveless nourishment.

Romans 14:3

For God hath received him.

For God doth indifferently accept, both of him that eateth, and of him that eateth not.

Romans 14:4

Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Yea, he whom thou art so ready to condemn, God will mercifully acquit and uphold; for, that God, whom I formerly declared to be willing, is certainly most able, to bear him up against all uncharitable judgments.

Romans 14:5

Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Let every man be so fully persuaded in his own heart of the lawfulness of that which he doth, as that he find no doubting

Romans 14:6

He that regardeth a day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that cateth, cateth to the Lord, &c.

He, that regardeth and observeth one day above another, regardeth it out of respect to the Lord, whose law, as he supposeth, requires and enjoins this difference; and he, that regardeth not one day more than another, doth this out of respect to the same Lord, who, by the liberty of the Gospel, hath freed us from those Jewish observations, &c.

Romans 14:7

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

For we are the Lord’s servants; and therefore we are not in any thing to respect ourselves, but our Master: none of us liveth, or may live, to and for himself; none of us dieth to himself, but to the Lord; so as by his death, as also by his life, God is and must be glorified.

Romans 14:13

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock &c.

Let us not pass judgments of censure one upon another; but let us pass this judgment of charitable resolution in ourselves, that no man put a stumblingblock &c.

Romans 14:14

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.

Nothing is, in its own nature, unclean; for God made all things good: but, in a man’s conceit and opinion, some creatures seem unclean; and, while a man is in that mind, surely that creature is unclean to him, because his conscience riseth up against the use thereof.

Romans 14:15

But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

But, if thy brother be so grieved and hurt, as hereby to be drawn into a scandal, with thy eating of that meat which he makes conscience of, now walkest thou not charitably: Do not, what in thee lies, destroy him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Romans 14:16

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

Let not that good liberty, which the Gospel hath given you in these indifferent things, be evil spoken of, through your careless use of it:

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

For the kingdom of God, which he erects, by grace in the hearts of men, doth not consist in meats and drinks and these outward observations, but in the inward virtues and good dispositions of the soul; in righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 14:22

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

But thou sayest, I have faith, and knowledge of the lawfulness of these things: why may I not freely make use of them? Hast thou faith? be thankful for it: this will secure thy conscience, in that which thou dost, betwixt God and thee; and do thou make this use of it: but know, that thou must walk, in respect of others, by the rule of charity: thy charity therefore is for others; thy faith, for thyself: for, happy is that man, which is so settled by his faithful resolutions, as that he condemneth not himself in that, which ye yieldeth to do.

Romans 14:23

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

He, that doubteth whether he sin in eating or not, is condemned if he eat; because his conscience is unsettled, and he eateth sinfully, because he eateth doubtfully: for whatsoever is not done in faith, and particularly, even in these indifferent things, whatsoever is done with a doubtful conscience, is sin.