Romans 14:19

THE MESSAGE

So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault. You're certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God's work among you, are you? I said it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another.

King James Version (1611)
Let vs therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edifie an other.

King James Version
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

English Standard Version
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

New American Standard Bible
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

New Century Version
So let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another.

Amplified Bible
So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

Legacy Standard Bible
So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

Berean Standard Bible
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Contemporary English Version
We should try to live at peace and help each other have a strong faith.

Complete Jewish Bible
So then, let us pursue the things that make for shalom and mutual upbuilding.

Darby Translation
So then let us pursue the things which tend to peace, and things whereby one shall build up another.

Easy-to-Read Version
So let's try as hard as we can to do what will bring peace. Let's do whatever will help each other grow stronger in faith.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Let vs then followe those things which concerne peace, and wherewith one may edifie another.

George Lamsa Translation
Now let us strive after peace, and help one another.

Good News Translation
So then, we must always aim at those things that bring peace and that help strengthen one another.

Lexham English Bible
So then, let us pursue what promotes peace and what edifies one another.

Literal Translation
So then let us pursue the things of peace, and the things for building up one another.

American Standard Version
So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.

Bible in Basic English
So then, let us go after the things which make peace, and the things by which we may be a help to one another.

Hebrew Names Version
So then, let us follow after things which make for shalom, and things whereby we may build one another up.

International Standard Version
Therefore, let us keep on pursuing those things that bring peace and that lead to building one another up.Psalm 34:14; Romans 12:18; 15:2; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Now, after peace let us pursue, [fn] and after the edification of one another,

Murdock Translation
Now let us strive after peace, and after the edification of one another.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Let vs therfore folowe those thynges which make for peace, & thynges wherwith one may edifie another.

English Revised Version
So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.

World English Bible
So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may build one another up.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Let us therefore pursue the things that tend to peace, and to mutual edification.

Weymouth's New Testament
Therefore let us aim at whatever makes for peace and mutual upbuilding of character.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor sue we tho thingis that ben of pees, and kepe we togidere `tho thingis that ben of edificacioun.

Update Bible Version
So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another.

New English Translation
So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.

New King James Version
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

New Living Translation
So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

New Life Bible
Work for the things that make peace and help each other become stronger Christians.

New Revised Standard
Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Hence, then, the things pertaining to peace, let us pursue, and the things which belong to the upbuilding one of another:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore, let us follow after the things that are of peace and keep the things that are of edification, one towards another.

Revised Standard Version
Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Let vs folowe tho thinges which make for peace and thinges wherwith one maye edyfie another.

Young's Literal Translation
So, then, the things of peace may we pursue, and the things of building up one another;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Let vs therfore folowe those thinges which make for peace, & thinges wherwith one maye edifye another.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Let us therefore pursue those things which tend to peace, and mutual edification.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Ride as one and help each other out in order to build the crew up.

Contextual Overview

¹ Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. ²For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help. ⁵ Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience. ⁶What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It's God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. ¹⁰So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly—or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture: "As I live and breathe," God says, "every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God." So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God. ¹³Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I'm convinced—Jesus convinced me!—that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it. ¹⁵If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don't eat, you're no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet? Don't you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning! ¹⁷God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you. ¹⁹So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault. You're certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God's work among you, are you? I said it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love. ²²Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

follow: Romans 12:18, Psalms 34:14, Psalms 133:1, Matthew 5:9, Mark 9:50, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 4:3-7, Philippians 2:1-4, Colossians 3:12-15, Hebrews 12:14, James 3:13-18, 1 Peter 3:11

and: Romans 15:2, 1 Corinthians 10:33, 1 Corinthians 14:12-17, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Ephesians 4:29, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Timothy 1:4

Reciprocal: Joshua 18:8 - that I may here Proverbs 21:21 - that Isaiah 51:1 - ye that follow Acts 9:31 - were edified 1 Corinthians 7:15 - but 1 Corinthians 10:23 - edify 1 Corinthians 14:3 - edification Ephesians 4:12 - the edifying Philippians 2:4 - General 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - ever 1 Timothy 6:11 - and 2 Timothy 2:22 - peace

Cross-References

Genesis 14:22
But Abram told the king of Sodom, "I swear to God , The High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, this solemn oath, that I'll take nothing from you, not so much as a thread or a shoestring. I'm not going to have you go around saying, ‘I made Abram rich.' Nothing for me other than what the young men ate and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; they're to get their share of the plunder."

Genesis 47:7
Next Joseph brought his father Jacob in and introduced him to Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Jacob, "How old are you?"

Genesis 49:28
All these are the tribes of Israel, the twelve tribes. And this is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each one with his own special farewell blessing.

Ruth 3:10
He said, " God bless you, my dear daughter! What a splendid expression of love! And when you could have had your pick of any of the young men around. And now, my dear daughter, don't you worry about a thing; I'll do all you could want or ask. Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are—a real prize! You're right, I am a close relative to you, but there is one even closer than I am. So stay the rest of the night. In the morning, if he wants to exercise his customary rights and responsibilities as the closest covenant redeemer, he'll have his chance; but if he isn't interested, as God lives, I'll do it. Now go back to sleep until morning."

Psalms 24:1
A David Psalm God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it. He built it on Ocean foundations, laid it out on River girders.

Micah 6:6
How can I stand up before God and show proper respect to the high God? Should I bring an armload of offerings topped off with yearling calves? Would God be impressed with thousands of rams, with buckets and barrels of olive oil? Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child, my precious baby, to cancel my sin?

Matthew 11:25
Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Luke 10:21
At that, Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit. "I thank you, Father, Master of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the know-it-alls and showed them to these innocent newcomers. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

Ephesians 1:3
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let us therefore follow after the things, Since the kingdom of God is in part peace, and the man that serves Christ in this, as in other things, is accepted with God, and grateful to men, the apostle very pertinently exhorts to seek after such things,

which make for peace: not with God, for, for a sinful creature to make peace with God is impracticable and impossible, nor is there any exhortation to it in all the word of God; and if there was, it would be unnecessary here; since the persons here exhorted were such for whom peace with God was made by Christ, and who had a clear and comfortable sense of it in their own souls; and besides, for any to be put upon, or to attempt to make their peace with God, must highly reflect upon the methods of God's grace, in reconciling sinners to himself; and be injurious to the blood, sacrifice, and satisfaction of Christ, by which only peace is made: but the apostle means, either what makes for a man's own peace, or for the peace of others; the things which make for a man's own peace in his own conscience distressed with sin, are looking to, and dealing with the blood of Christ, which speaks peace and pardon; and the righteousness of Christ, which being apprehended by faith, a soul has peace with God through Christ; and also an embracing the Gospel, and the truths of it, which direct to Christ, which publish peace, and are the means of increasing and establishing a solid and well grounded peace, on the free grace of God and merits of Christ: attending on ordinances, and exercising a conscience void of offence towards God and men, are means of continuing and promoting a man's peace; he enjoys peace in them, though he do not derive it from them; yea, in the peace of others, is a man's own peace; and this is what is chiefly meant, a pursuing of things which make for the peace of others; of all men, and especially of saints; this is what should be eagerly followed after, closely pursued, and all ways and means should be made use of, to promote and secure it: this is the will of God; it is well pleasing to Christ, and a fruit of the Spirit; it is one part of the Gospel dispensation; church fellowship cannot be profitable and pleasant without it; it suits with the character of saints, who are sons of peace; and agrees with their privileges they enjoy, or have a right unto, as spiritual peace here, and eternal peace hereafter;

and things wherewith one may edify another. The church is often compared to a building, to a temple, a city, an house, and saints are the materials thereof; who are capable of being edified, or built up, yet more and more, both by words and by deeds; by words, by the ministry of the word, which is set up and continued among other things, for the edifying of the body of Christ; by praying with, and for each other; and by Christian conversation, about the experience of the grace of God, and doctrines of the Gospel, whereby saints may be useful in building up one another in their most holy faith; and so likewise by avoiding all filthy, frothy, and corrupt communication; all angry words and wrathful expressions, which tend not to profit, and are not for the use of edifying, but the contrary: moreover, edification is promoted by deeds, by acts of charity, or love; for charity edifies not by bare words but by loving in deed and in truth, by serving one another in love; for the spiritual body of Christ his church, makes increase unto the edifying of itself in love; and also by laying aside the use of things indifferent, when disagreeable to any of the brethren; for though all things may be lawful to be done by us, yet all things do not edify the brethren; and things which make for the edification of the body, as well as our own, are diligently to be sought after. The Vulgate Latin version, and some copies, read, "let us keep", or "observe those things wherewith one may edify another".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let us therefore follow ... - The object of this verse is to persuade the church at Rome to lay aside their causes of contention, and to live in harmony. This exhortation is founded on the considerations which the apostle had presented, and may be regarded as the conclusion to which the argument had conducted him.

The things which make for peace - The high purposes and objects of the Christian religion, and not those smaller matters which produce strife. If men aim at the great objects proposed by the Christian religion, they will live in peace. If they seek to promote their private ends, to follow their own passions and prejudices, they will be involved in strife and contention. There “are” great common objects before “all” Christians in which they can unite, and in the pursuit of which they will cultivate a spirit of peace. Let them all strive for holiness; let them seek to spread the gospel; let them engage in circulating the Bible, or in doing good in any way to others, and their smaller matters of difference will sink into comparative unimportance, and they will unite in one grand purpose of saving the world. Christians have more things in which they “agree” than in which they differ. The points in which they are agreed are of infinite importance; the points on which they differ are commonly some minor matters in which they may “agree to differ,” and still cherish love for all who bear the image of Christ.

And things wherewith ... - That is, those things by which we may render “aid” to our brethren; the doctrines, exhortations, counsels, and other helps which may benefit them in their Christian life.

May edify - The word “edify” means properly to “build,” as a house; then to “rebuild” or “reconstruct;” then to adorn or ornament; then to do any thing that will confer favor or advantage, or which will further an object. Applied to the church, it means to do anything by teaching, counsel, advice, etc. which will tend to promote its great object; to aid Christians, to enable them to surmount difficulties, to remove their ignorance, etc.; Acts 9:31; 1Co 8:1; 1 Corinthians 14:4. In these expressions the idea of a “building” is retained, reared on a firm, tried cornerstone, the Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 2:20; Isaiah 28:16. Compare Romans 9:33. Christians are thus regarded, according to Paul’s noble idea Ephesians 2:20-22, as one great temple erected for the glory of God, having no separate interest, but as united for one object, and therefore bound to do all that is possible, that each other may be suited to their appropriate place, and perform their appropriate function in perfecting and adorning this temple of God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Let us therefore follow — Far from contending about meats, drinks, and festival times, in which it is not likely that the Jews and Gentiles will soon agree, let us endeavour to the utmost of our power to promote peace and unanimity, that we may be instrumental in edifying each other, in promoting religious knowledge and piety instead of being stumbling-blocks in each other's way.