Romans 14

(1)  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
(2)  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
(3)  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
(4)  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
(5)  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
(6)  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
(7)  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
(8)  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
(9)  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
(10)  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
(11)  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
(12)  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
(13)  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.
(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.
(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.
(16)  Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
(17)  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(18)  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
(19)  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
(20)  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
(21)  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.
(22)  Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
(23)  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

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Study Questions

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1. Who were the weak in the faith? What is meant by “receive ye”? What can we learn from Thayer’s definition of “disputations” as “passing judgments on opinions, as to which one is to be preferred as the more correct”? Verse 1.

2. Why was it likely that some would eat only herbs or vegetables? Verse 2.

3. What reason does Paul give for forbidding both classes from thinking disparagingly or judgmentally of each other because of their eating or not eating? Verse 3.

4. The American Standard Version renders “servant” as “household-servant” in footnotes. How does the figure of a “lord” or “master” and “household-servant illustrate Paul’s instruction? Verse 4.

5. Why would a “day” have been a matter in this issue? Is worship on the Lord’s Day a matter of indifference? What is Paul’s requirement pursuant to respect of days? Verse 5.

6. What is the purpose of both the one who regards a day and eats and the one who regards not a day and eats not? Verse 6.

7. What is generally assumed about this verse? What is needed for a correct explanation of this verse? Verse 7.

8. Read verses 7 and 8 and substitute the word “for” instead of the words “to” and “unto.” How does that help our understanding of Paul’s point? Verse 8.

9. Why can’t a Christian cut himself off from any connection with the Lord and live his own life as he pleases? Verse 9.

10. The word translated “judge” is defined as to “pass an unfavorable judgment upon, criticize, find fault with, condemn.” Is the prohibition against judgment limited here to the things such as Paul was discussing? Explain your answer. Verse 10.

11. Why is it better to remove ourselves from the role of God? Verse 11.

12. What is Paul’s conclusion to what he has already argued in this chapter? Verse 12.

13. In view of the subject under consideration, can you think of a way a man could put “a stumbling-block” in his brother’s way? Verse 13.

14. What is the exception to the rule “that there is nothing unclean of itself”? How did Paul come to this knowledge? Verse 14.

15. Is the phrase “if thy brother be grieved” a warning against doing anything to hurt his feelings? How would we destroy a brother with meat? Verse 15.

16. Why would a brother’s good, that is, his freedom or liberty in Christ, come to be “evil spoken of”? Verse 16.

17. What are the important matters in the kingdom of God? How are these matters promoted? Verse 17.

18. How may we become both acceptable to God and approved of men? Verse 18.

19. What are some things that do not “make for peace” and do not “edify” one another? Verse 19.

20. How could we destroy the work of God? If “all things” (i.e. all meats formerly forbidden by law) are pure, how could we eat “with offense”? Verse 20.

21. What must be taken into account about our freedom and liberty in Christ? What is the meaning of the word “stumbleth” as used here? Verse 21.

22. Under what circumstances must the Christian not exercise his faith that the legal distinctions between clean and unclean animals had been done away and he could eat any meat he chose? How does a man condemn himself in what he allows (approves, American Standard Version)?

23. Does “faith” here refer to faith in Christ, the faith of the gospel, or something else? What happens when a man does something without being fully persuaded that it is right?

24. What should Christian Jews have known about regulations of meat and days?