Romans 14 14

Romans 14:14 kjv

I 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.

Romans 14:14 nkjv

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Romans 14:14 niv

I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.

Romans 14:14 esv

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

Romans 14:14 nlt

I 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.

Romans 14 verses

Romans 14 14 Meaning

Romans 14:14 establishes a core principle of Christian liberty: that no food is inherently defiling or ceremonially unclean in its own nature. This understanding comes from a firm conviction rooted in the Lord Jesus. However, this declaration of freedom is immediately balanced by a critical qualification: for any individual who genuinely perceives or believes a specific food to be unclean, then for that person, it indeed is unclean. This highlights the supreme importance of an individual's conscience and the principle that to act against one's own deeply held conviction, even in matters considered indifferent, constitutes sin for that person.

Romans 14 14 Context

Romans chapter 14 directly addresses the challenge of disunity within the early Christian community, particularly regarding non-essential practices such as diet (eating meat versus vegetables, especially concerning meat that may have been offered to idols or was not kosher) and the observance of specific days. This was a critical issue in the mixed Jewish and Gentile congregations, where those from Jewish backgrounds often held on to Mosaic traditions, while many Gentiles saw no such obligations. Paul categorizes believers into "strong" (those who understand their liberty in Christ) and "weak" (those whose consciences still feel bound by such regulations), admonishing both groups not to judge each other. Verse 14 is central to Paul's argument: it provides the theological foundation for the "strong" brother's liberty, proclaiming an end to intrinsic ceremonial defilement, while simultaneously introducing the profound responsibility of not violating or causing a brother to violate their own conscience, thereby asserting the supremacy of love and unity within the body of Christ.

Romans 14 14 Word analysis

• I know (οἶδα, oida) and am convinced (πέπεισμαι, pepeismai):
  • Oida signifies a state of firm, complete, intuitive, and often divinely informed knowledge.
  • Pepeismai, a perfect passive, means "I have been persuaded," indicating an enduring, settled conviction resulting from divine influence. Together, these terms convey Paul's absolute and authoritative certainty, not as a personal opinion, but as a deeply embedded gospel truth revealed by God.
• in the Lord Jesus (ἐν Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ, en Kyriō Iēsou):
  • This phrase indicates the ultimate source and sphere of Paul's conviction. It implies that his understanding is directly derived from Christ's teachings, consistent with the New Covenant established by Christ, and held within the context of a personal relationship with the exalted Lord.
• that nothing (οὐδέν, ouden):
  • An emphatic universal negative, meaning "absolutely no single thing." It sweeping away all prior distinctions concerning ceremonial defilement.
• is unclean (κοινόν, koinon):
  • This specific Greek term refers to ritual impurity or commonness, in contrast to akathartos (literally 'not clean'). It means ceremonially defiled or profaned, particularly regarding food. It is distinct from moral sinfulness. Paul is declaring an end to such ritual distinctions in foods.
• in itself (δι’ ἑαυτοῦ, di' heautou):
  • Clarifies that the food or item inherently possesses no quality of defilement. The object itself is neutral; its state of 'clean' or 'unclean' is not an intrinsic property. This refutes the idea of external things possessing power to defile God's creation.
• but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean (εἰ μὴ τῷ λογιζομένῳ τι κοινὸν εἶναι, ἐκείνῳ κοινόν, ei mē tō logizomenō ti koinon einai, ekeinō koinon):
  • tō logizomenō: Present participle from logizomai, meaning "to reckon," "to consider," "to perceive," or "to decide." It highlights the internal, personal process of thought and conviction.
  • ti koinon einai: "that something is unclean."
  • ekeinō koinon: "for that one it is unclean."
  • This phrase underscores the decisive role of the individual's conscience. While food isn't intrinsically unclean, it becomes "unclean" for a specific person who believes it to be so. To act against this personal, faith-informed conviction, for that individual, constitutes a violation of conscience and therefore a sin, regardless of the objective neutrality of the item.

Romans 14 14 Bonus section

The emphasis in Romans 14:14 on the phrase "in the Lord Jesus" signifies that this teaching on the purity of all foods is not Paul's personal innovation or cultural adaptation, but a truth directly revealed and sanctioned by Christ himself. This elevates the authority of his statement, linking it irrevocably to the gospel message that fulfilled the Old Testament Law. The careful distinction between "koinon" (ceremonially common/unclean) and "akathartos" (intrinsically unclean by nature, as in Levitical law) is crucial. By using "koinon," Paul frames the discussion around matters that can be deemed "common" or "profane" through a subjective lens, rather than explicitly forbidden as inherently defiling. This semantic precision allows for a flexible understanding of Christian liberty where love and conscience, rather than legalistic codes, become the governing principles for interaction within the church, all under the overarching lordship of Christ.

Romans 14 14 Commentary

Romans 14:14 brilliantly reconciles the objective truth of Christian freedom with the subjective reality of individual conscience. Paul’s unequivocal declaration, "I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself," is a profound statement of the New Covenant's liberation from ceremonial laws. It reiterates Christ’s own teaching and the apostolic understanding that all foods are now ceremonially clean, effectively dismantling the Old Testament distinctions between clean and unclean foods. This conviction, coming "in the Lord Jesus," establishes it as a fundamental theological truth for the church.

However, Paul immediately introduces the critical qualifier: "but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean." This clause is not a retraction of the theological truth, but a vital practical application for Christian fellowship. It means that while the strong in faith possess true liberty, this freedom must be exercised with loving consideration for the weak. For a believer whose conscience still dictates that certain foods are defiling, consuming those foods would involve acting against their deeply held, faith-informed conviction. To violate one's conscience, even in an indifferent matter, is considered sin (Rom 14:23). Thus, the verse calls the "strong" not to assert their liberty rigidly, but to walk in love, prioritizing the spiritual well-being of their brother over their own right to partake. Christian freedom finds its ultimate expression not in unbridled personal indulgence, but in thoughtful self-restraint for the sake of another believer's spiritual growth and the unity of the body. For instance, a Christian convinced that alcohol is inherently wrong should not be pressured by those who see no sin in it, for consuming it against their conviction would be sin for them.