Romans 14:15 kjv
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:15 nkjv
Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:15 niv
If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:15 esv
For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
Romans 14:15 nlt
And 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.
Romans 14 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 14:1 | "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions." | Welcome the weak in faith. |
| Romans 14:2-3 | "One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him." | Avoid despising or judging. |
| 1 Corinthians 8:11 | "And through your knowledge also the weaker brother is perishing—for whom Christ died." | Danger of knowledge harming the weak. |
| 1 Corinthians 8:12 | "Thus, when you sin against your brothers and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ." | Sin against brothers is sin against Christ. |
| Galatians 5:13 | "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another." | Freedom in Christ, serve one another. |
| Colossians 3:13 | "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." | Forgiveness and bearing with others. |
| 1 John 4:11 | "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." | Obligation to love one another. |
| Matthew 7:1-2 | "Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be held accountable, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." | Do not judge others. |
| Mark 9:38-40 | "John said to him, 'Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.' But Jesus said, 'Do not stop him, for no one who does miraculous power in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me...'" | Acceptance of those outside the immediate group. |
| Ephesians 4:2-3 | "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." | Humility, gentleness, patience, love. |
| Philippians 2:3-4 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." | Humility and considering others better. |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." | Do all to God's glory. |
| Leviticus 11 | Regulations concerning clean and unclean foods. | Old Testament food laws. |
| Acts 10:9-16 | Peter's vision about unclean foods being declared clean. | Gospel breaking down food barriers. |
| Romans 14:4 | "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to uphold him." | Accountability to God alone. |
| Romans 14:5 | "One person esteems one day above another, another esteems every day alike. Each let his own mind be fully persuaded." | Freedom in observing days. |
| Romans 14:13 | "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or occasion to sin before a brother." | Stop judging, avoid causing stumbling. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:20 | "for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." | Glorify God with your body. |
| 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 | Paul's accommodation to win all kinds of people. | Paul's method of adaptation. |
| Galatians 2:11-14 | Paul confronts Peter for separating himself from Gentile believers. | Consistency in applying the gospel. |
| Romans 15:1-2 | "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." | Bear with the weak, please neighbor. |
Romans 14 verses
Romans 14 15 Meaning
This verse is a stern warning against destroying a fellow believer through judgmental or self-righteous actions, particularly concerning practices considered permissible for some but not for others (like dietary laws). It emphasizes that Christ's life and death are central to the believer's freedom and that no one has the authority to condemn another's conscience.
Romans 14 15 Context
This verse is part of Romans chapter 14, which addresses issues of disputable matters within the church, specifically focusing on differences in practices, primarily diet and observance of certain days. The apostle Paul is writing to the church in Rome, which was composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers. The core of the issue was that some believers, coming from a Jewish background, continued to adhere strictly to Old Testament dietary laws and the observance of specific religious days. Others, particularly Gentile converts, did not feel bound by these laws, understanding that Christ's work had rendered them obsolete for believers. This created division and judgment among them. Chapter 14 aims to promote unity and love by encouraging believers to accept one another, regardless of these differences, and to focus on what edifies the body of Christ, rather than on matters of personal opinion or conscience that do not fundamentally affect one's standing with God.
Romans 14 15 Word Analysis
καταλθε (katalue):
- From the verb "katallasso" (καταλλάσσω).
- Literally means "to break down," "to destroy," "to ruin."
- In this context, it signifies ruining or destroying the work of God in a brother's life.
- This destruction is not physical but spiritual and emotional, achieved through judgmental attitudes and actions that lead to discord and potentially a person's discouragement or separation from fellowship.
- This echoes the principle of not harming fellow believers, as seen in 1 Corinthians 8:11.
σθενεις (stheneis):
- This is a verb related to strength or power, but in the form it appears here, it relates to the recipient of the action.
- It refers to a person being weakened or rendered feeble in faith or in their walk.
- The destruction is targeted at the spiritual strength and peace of another believer.
ἔργον (ergon):
- Meaning "work," "deed," "action," or "accomplishment."
- Here it refers to the work of God in and through a person, which includes their spiritual progress, faith, and contribution to the body of Christ.
- It also can encompass the particular practice or belief the other person holds with conviction.
- Destroying the "work of God" means undermining the individual's spiritual vitality and testimony.
τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou):
- "Of God."
- Emphasizes that the work being destroyed is divinely ordained or acceptable to God.
- It is not just any work, but that which is pleasing or a part of God's plan for that individual.
Group Analysis: The phrase "destroy the work of God" (katalue to ergon tou theou) vividly illustrates the destructive potential of unloving judgment. It suggests that when one believer judges another over secondary matters, they are not just offending an individual but actively undermining God's divine project within that person and within the unity of the church. This is a grave consequence, far exceeding a simple disagreement.
Romans 14 15 Bonus Section
The emphasis on "destroying the work of God" underscores that believers are not only individuals saved by grace but are also interconnected parts of a larger divine organism—the Church. Actions that damage one member can affect the entire body. This also relates to the principle of not adding to or taking away from the Gospel by imposing human traditions or rules that Christ did not institute, effectively trying to rebuild a "works-based" righteousness on top of God's finished work. The love and unity the Apostle Paul is calling for here directly combat the divisiveness that arose from legalistic attitudes or self-righteous pride concerning matters not essential to salvation.
Romans 14 15 Commentary
Believers are warned against the perilous act of causing another brother or sister in Christ to stumble or to have their faith undermined through judgment or harsh criticism, especially on matters of conscience like food or observances. Such actions do not build up but rather tear down the spiritual work God is doing in that individual. True freedom in Christ calls for a mutual forbearance and love that prioritizes the other's spiritual well-being and unity over one's own opinions. It is a call to walk in the Spirit, seeking to edify, not condemn, because ultimately, each person is accountable to God alone for their walk and convictions. This responsibility extends to safeguarding the spiritual health of fellow believers from harm caused by judgmentalism.