3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him who 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. And, he shall be held 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. [1] 6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it to 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. [2] 7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live to the Lord; and whether we die, we die to 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 the living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou show contempt for 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 by itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [3] 15 But if thy brother is grieved with thy food, now walkest thou not in love. Destroy not him with thy food, for whom Christ died. [4] 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved by men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things which one may edify another. 20 For the sake of food 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 by which 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 what he approveth. 23 And he that doubteth is condemned if he eateth, because he eateth not from faith: for whatever is not from faith is sin. [5] [6]
CHAP. 15.
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
4 For whatever things were written in former times were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: [7]
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers:
9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing to thy name.
10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
12 And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
14 And I myself also am persuaded concerning you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly to you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me from God,
16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. [8]
17 I have therefore cause for glorying through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by
- ↑ fully persuaded: or, fully assured
- ↑ regardeth: or, observeth
- ↑ unclean: Gr. common
- ↑ charitably: Gr. according to charity
- ↑ doubteth: or, discerneth and putteth a difference between meats
- ↑ damned: or, condemned, or liable to punishment
- ↑ according to: or, after the example of
- ↑ offering up: or, sacrificing
