Romans 14 21

Romans 14:21 kjv

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.

Romans 14:21 nkjv

It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Romans 14:21 niv

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

Romans 14:21 esv

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

Romans 14:21 nlt

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

Romans 14 verses

Romans 14 21 Meaning

Romans 14:21 communicates a crucial principle of Christian living: it is morally commendable to forgo personal freedoms in morally indifferent matters (such as eating meat or drinking wine) if exercising those freedoms would cause a fellow believer to stumble spiritually, violate their conscience, or fall into sin. It underscores the supremacy of sacrificial love and brotherly edification over the assertion of individual rights within the Christian community.

Romans 14 21 Context

Romans 14:21 is a pivotal verse within Romans chapters 14 and 15, where the Apostle Paul addresses a conflict in the Roman church between "strong" and "weak" believers concerning matters of Christian liberty, specifically related to food and the observance of days. The "weak" believers held strict convictions, perhaps due to their former religious backgrounds (Jewish converts adhering to dietary laws or Gentiles associating certain foods with idol worship), causing them to feel it was sinful to eat certain meats or drink wine. They might also have observed specific days for religious devotion beyond what the Gospel required. The "strong" believers, understanding their freedom in Christ, knew that all food was clean and that "the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking" (Rom 14:17).

Paul's purpose is not to declare who is "right" in these indifferent matters (adiaphora) but to promote unity and love. He insists that neither group should judge or despise the other (Rom 14:3-4). This verse culminates his argument by calling on the "strong" to exercise self-sacrificial love. The historical context reveals that much meat available in Roman markets could have been offered to idols, making it a severe conscience issue for some. Drinking wine, though commonplace, could also be seen as participating in pagan revelry or leading a brother prone to intemperance into temptation. Therefore, Paul provides a sweeping principle that personal freedoms, though legitimate, must be surrendered when they endanger a fellow believer's spiritual walk.

Romans 14 21 Word analysis

• "It is good" (καλόν – kalon): More than merely "acceptable" or "permissible," kalon signifies something that is morally excellent, beautiful, honorable, and truly fitting. Paul presents this as a superior choice, a morally praiseworthy action that reflects God's character and the principles of the kingdom. It is not a legal command but a recommendation based on profound love.
• "not to eat meat" (κρεῶν φαγεῖν – kreōn phagein): Refers specifically to the act of abstaining from meat. This was a core issue for the "weak" believers, likely tied to concerns about idol sacrifices (1 Cor 8) or adherence to Old Testament dietary laws, where eating certain meats could defile.
• "or drink wine" (οἶνον πιεῖν – oinon piein): Abstaining from wine. This could be due to ascetic practices, fears of intemperance, or its association with pagan feasts and revelry, causing some consciences to view it as problematic.
• "or do anything" (μηδὲ ἕν – mēde hen): This crucial phrase greatly broadens the scope of the principle. It means "not even one thing" or "nothing at all." Paul moves beyond the specific examples of food and drink to establish a universal ethical rule. Any action that falls into the category of "adiaphora" (things morally indifferent) must be weighed against its impact on a fellow believer.
• "that causes your brother to stumble":
  • "causes... to stumble" (προσκόπτει – proskoptei, the verb from which προσκόμμα – proskomma, "stumbling block" is derived): To strike against something, to trip, or to fall. Spiritually, it means to cause someone to sin, to lead them into an action that violates their conscience (even if the act itself is morally neutral), to weaken their faith, or to cause them to fall away from God. It is not merely to offend in a superficial sense, but to cause serious spiritual injury or downfall.
  • "your brother" (ὁ ἀδελφός σου – ho adelphos sou): Refers to a fellow believer in Christ. The deep relational term emphasizes the responsibility, love, and care that one Christian owes another within the family of God. The "brother" is primarily the "weak" brother, whose conscience is more easily troubled in matters of freedom.

Romans 14 21 Bonus section

• Adiaphora Defined: Romans 14:21 and the surrounding context are foundational for the theological concept of adiaphora. These are practices or beliefs that are not essential for salvation or explicitly commanded/forbidden by Scripture, and therefore allow for Christian liberty. The verse teaches that while freedom exists in these areas, its exercise must be governed by love and concern for others, not by strict legalism or reckless abandon.
• Love as the Guiding Principle: Throughout Romans 14, Paul elevates love above individual rights or correct understanding of freedom. For the "strong" believer, understanding truth is insufficient; love compels them to yield their rights. For the "weak," love prevents them from judging others. This verse shows that truly "good" behavior (kalon) is ultimately defined by its contribution to love and peace within the body of Christ.
• Edification, Not Destruction: The principle is to "build one another up" (Rom 14:19) and seek the good of the neighbor. Actions that cause a brother to stumble dismantle faith and hinder spiritual growth, which directly opposes the mission of Christ and the purpose of Christian community.

Romans 14 21 Commentary

Romans 14:21 is a powerful expression of sacrificial love within the Christian community. It calls believers to move beyond self-focused rights and personal preferences to prioritize the spiritual well-being of their brethren. Paul isn't condemning meat or wine; indeed, he affirms that "everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving" (1 Tim 4:4). However, in matters of adiaphora (things neither commanded nor forbidden by Scripture), where consciences genuinely differ, the mature believer demonstrates spiritual strength not by asserting liberty but by voluntarily restraining it for the sake of the weaker brother. The ultimate goal is not to preserve one's own freedom but to build up and preserve the faith of others, ensuring unity and preventing actions that could lead a fellow believer to sin, doubt, or abandon their convictions. This principle echoes Christ's self-emptying love (Phil 2:3-8) and challenges us to constantly evaluate our choices through the lens of neighbor-love and corporate edification.

• Practical Example 1: A believer who enjoys secular entertainment, like a specific movie, might refrain from openly engaging with it around a new convert who recently escaped an addiction tied to that genre, even though the first believer feels no conviction against it.
• Practical Example 2: In a church plant attempting to reach people with strict cultural dietary codes, leaders might opt to avoid serving specific foods that would deeply offend or trouble the consciences of potential new members, even if those foods are biblically permissible.