Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
1Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don't argue about disputed matters. | 1Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. |
2One person believes he may eat anything, while one who is weak eats only vegetables. | 2For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. |
3One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat, and one who does not eat must not judge one who does, because God has accepted him. | 3Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. |
4Who are you to judge another's household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand. | 4Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval. |
5One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind. | 5In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. |
6Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. | 6Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. |
7For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. | 7For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. |
8If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. | 8If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. |
9Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living. | 9Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. |
10But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. | 10So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. |
11For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God. | 11For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the LORD, ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God. ’” |
12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. | 12Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. |
13Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister. | 13So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. |
14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. | 14I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. |
15For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died. | 15And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. |
16Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, | 16Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. |
17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. | 17For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. |
18Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval. | 18If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. |
19So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. | 19So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. |
20Do not tear down God's work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats. | 20Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. |
21It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. | 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. |
22Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. | 22You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. |
23But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin. | 23But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. |
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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