Romans 14
What Happens in This Chapter
Paul writes to believers in Rome who disagree about which foods to eat and which days are special. He tells them to welcome each other, stop judging, and remember that each person answers to God. He says no food is unclean by itself, but no one should eat in a way that makes another believer trip up. He tells them to go after peace and to build each other up.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
1Welcome the person whose trust in God is still weak. Do not argue with him about his opinions.
2For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
2One person believes he can eat any food. Another one, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
3Let 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.
3The one who eats everything must not look down on the one who does not. The one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does. God has welcomed them both.
4Who 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.
4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? His own master decides if he did well or badly. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to hold him up.
5One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
5One person thinks a certain day is more special than the rest. Another thinks every day is the same. Each person should make up his own mind.
6He 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.
6The person who keeps a special day does it for the Lord. The person who eats does it for the Lord, and he thanks God. The person who says no to some food also does it for the Lord, and he thanks God.
7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
7None of us lives only for himself. None of us dies only for himself.
8For 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.
8If we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.
9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
9Christ died and came back to life for this reason. He is Lord of the dead and of the living.
10But 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.
10So why do you judge your brother? Why do you look down on him? We will all stand before God to be judged.
11For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
11It is written in God's book: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me. Every tongue will say out loud that I am God."
12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
12So each one of us will tell God about his own life.
13Let 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.
13So let us stop judging one another. Decide instead never to put something in your brother's way that trips him.
14I 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.
14I am sure, because of the Lord Jesus, that no food is unclean by itself. But if someone thinks a food is unclean, then for him it is unclean.
15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
15If your food upsets your brother, you are not acting with love. Christ died for your brother. Do not ruin him over food.
In verse 15 the old word "meat" means food of any kind, not just meat from animals. The old word "charitably" means with love.
16Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
16Do not let the good thing you do get a bad name.
17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
17God's kingdom is not about food and drink. It is about doing right, living in peace, and being glad in the Holy Spirit.
18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
18Anyone who serves Christ this way makes God happy. Other people will respect him too.
19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
19So let us go after the things that bring peace. Let us do what helps each other grow stronger.
20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
20Do not wreck God's work over food. All food is clean. But it is wrong to eat in a way that trips someone else.
21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine. Skip anything that makes your brother trip, or upsets him, or makes him weak.
Here the word "flesh" does mean meat from animals.
22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
22What do you believe about these things? Keep it between you and God. A person is glad when he feels no guilt about what he lets himself do.
23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
23But a person who is unsure and eats anyway is judged guilty. He did not eat with a sure heart. Anything not done from a sure heart is sin.
The old word "damned" here means judged guilty. It is not talking about being sent away forever.
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