14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself.(A) But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.(B) 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.(C) Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.(D) 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.(E) 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,(F) but of righteousness, peace(G) and joy in the Holy Spirit,(H) 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.(I)

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace(J) and to mutual edification.(K) 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.(L) All food is clean,(M) but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.(N) 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.(O)

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(P) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(Q) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.

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