Keraia
Romans 14

Romans 14:21

The Law of Love · Romans 14:13–23
Read Romans 14

Translations

Modern
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
Traditional
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.
Literal
It is good neither to eat meat nor to drink wine nor anything in which your brother stumbles.
Latin
Bonum est non manducare carnem, et non bibere vinum, neque in quo frater tuus offenditur, aut scandalizatur, aut infirmatur.

Original

Greek
English
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.

Notes

Romans 14:21

or drink wine: Some Jews chose not to drink wine to avoid appearing ritually unclean. Wine was often used in pagan religious ceremonies, which could make its use seem improper (see Daniel 1:3–16).

Romans 14:1–15:7

Paul addresses a specific issue causing conflict in the church at Rome. The church encountered a dispute between those weak in faith and those strong in faith about certain practices (see 15:1).

Throughout this section, Paul urges Christians to show patience and tolerance toward one another and their practices. He is convinced that people on both sides are genuine believers. He also believes that the issues they are arguing about are not essential to the Christian faith.

Romans 12:1–15:13

This section of Romans explains the moral and ethical demands of the gospel. God’s gift of salvation in Christ calls for a response from believers.

God not only forgives sin. He also wants to transform how people live.

Much of what Paul teaches here about the moral duties of believers also appears in his other letters. However, Paul also addresses issues that were especially important for the church in Rome. One key issue was the disagreement between people who were weak in faith and people who were strong in faith(14:1–15:13).

Parallels

Ezekiel 14:1–11 1 Corinthians 8:1–13

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Dietary Laws Letter to the Romans Offend, Offense

Topics

Abstaining from Meat Alcohol Alcohol Consumption Alcoholism Being Drunk Can you Eat Meat Causing Another to Stumble Charitableness: General Scriptures Concerning Commandments of Men Commandments: Precepts of Paul--Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Conscience of Others, not to be offended Conscience: General Scriptures Concerning Drink Drinking Drinking Alcohol Drinking in Moderation Drinking Wine Drunkenness Evil: Appearance of, to be Avoided Expediency: General Scriptures Concerning Fellowship of the Righteous Food: from God Love: Exemplification of the Love of Man for Man Offense: Saints should Use Self-Denial Rather than Occasion Overeating Praying over Food Self-Denial: General Scriptures Concerning Self-Denial: should be Exercised in Preferring the Profit of Others Strife: General Scriptures Concerning Strong Drink Temptation: General Scriptures Concerning Vegetarianism Wine: Admonitions Against the Use of