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New Living Translation

Romans 14:15

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Charitableness;   Commandments;   Conscience;   Evil;   Expediency;   Fellowship;   Jesus, the Christ;   Rome;   Self-Denial;   Selfishness;   Suffering;   Temptation;   Uncharitableness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Evil;   Influence;   The Topic Concordance - Meat;   Sacrifice;   Stumbling/slipping;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Brother;   Idol, idolatry;   Love;   Self-discipline;   Walk;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Blasphemy;   Law of Christ;   Motives;   Strong and Weak;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Food Offered to Idols;   Injury;   Knowledge;   Love;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ethics;   Judging;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Wine and Strong Drink;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Brotherly Love;   Commandment;   Righteousness;   Romans Epistle to the;   Virtue;   Walk (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Interesting facts about the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Charitably;   Drunkenness;   For;   Grief;   Love;   Pauline Theology;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for May 30;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
If someone thinks it's wrong to eat something, don't try to serve it to them. That ain't loving 'em. Don't let something as good as food turn y'all against each other. Christ died for both of y'all.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
Legacy Standard Bible
For if because of food your brother is grieved, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
Bible in Basic English
And if because of food your brother is troubled, then you are no longer going on in the way of love. Do not let your food be destruction to him for whom Christ went into death.
Darby Translation
For if on account of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer according to love. Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ has died.
Christian Standard Bible®
For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat.
World English Bible
Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But if thy brother is grieved by thy meat, thou no longer walkest charitably. Destroy not him by thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Weymouth's New Testament
If your brother is pained by the food you are eating, your conduct is no longer controlled by love. Take care lest, by the food you eat, you lead to ruin a man for whom Christ died.
King James Version (1611)
But if thy brother be grieued with thy meate: now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Literal Translation
But if your brother is grieved because of your food, you no longer walk according to love. Do not by your food destroy that one for whom Christ died.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf yi brother be greued ouer yi meate, the walkest thou not now after charite. Destroye not wt thy meate, him, for whom Christ dyed,
Mace New Testament (1729)
now if your brother be endanger'd by your eating, you violate the obligations of love: for such a matter as eating, will you risk his life, for whom Christ died?
THE MESSAGE
If 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!
Amplified Bible
If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died.
American Standard Version
For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died.
Revised Standard Version
If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
If thy brother be greved with thy meate now walkest thou not charitablye. Destroye not him with thy meate for whom Christ dyed.
Update Bible Version
For if because of meat your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your meat him for whom Christ died.
Webster's Bible Translation
But if thy brother is grieved with [thy] food, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy food, for whom Christ died.
Young's Literal Translation
and if through victuals thy brother is grieved, no more dost thou walk according to love; do not with thy victuals destroy that one for whom Christ died.
New Century Version
If you hurt your brother's or sister's faith because of something you eat, you are not really following the way of love. Do not destroy someone's faith by eating food he thinks is wrong, because Christ died for him.
New English Translation
For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died.
Berean Standard Bible
If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
Contemporary English Version
If you are hurting others by the foods you eat, you are not guided by love. Don't let your appetite destroy someone Christ died for.
Complete Jewish Bible
and if your brother is being upset by the food you eat, your life is no longer one of love. Do not, by your eating habits, destroy someone for whom the Messiah died!
English Standard Version
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But if thy brother be grieued for the meate, nowe walkest thou not charitably: destroy not him with thy meate, for whome Christ dyed.
George Lamsa Translation
But now if you have caused your brother to grieve on account of meat, then you are not living in harmony. Do not make food a cause to destroy a man for whose sake Christ died.
Hebrew Names Version
Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Messiah died.
International Standard Version
For if your brother is being hurt by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not destroy the person for whom Christ died by what you eat.1 Corinthians 8:11;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But if on account of meat thou grievest thy brother, thou walkest not in love: destroy not by thy meat him on account of whom the Meshiha died.
Murdock Translation
But if thou grievest thy brother, because of food, thou walkest not in love. On account of food, destroy not him for whom Messiah died.
New King James Version
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.
New Life Bible
If your Christian brother is hurt because of some foods you eat, then you are no longer living by love. Do not destroy the man for whom Christ died by the food you eat.
English Revised Version
For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died.
New Revised Standard
If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, in fact, because of food, thy brother is being grieved, no longer, by the rule of love, art thou walking: - do not, by thy food, that man, be destroying, on whose behalf Christ died!
Douay-Rheims Bible
For if, because of thy meat, thy brother be grieved, thou walkest not now according to charity. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
King James Version
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Lexham English Bible
For if because of food, your brother is grieved, you are no longer living according to love. Do not destroy by your food that person for whom Christ died.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But yf thy brother be greeued with thy meat, nowe walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not hym with thy meat, for whom Christe dyed.
Easy-to-Read Version
If you hurt the faith of your brother or sister because of something you eat, you are not really following the way of love. Don't destroy anyone's faith by eating something they think is wrong. Christ died for them.
New American Standard Bible
For if because of food your brother or sister is hurt, you are no longer walking in accordance with love. Do not destroy with your choice of food that person for whom Christ died.
Good News Translation
If you hurt others because of something you eat, then you are no longer acting from love. Do not let the food that you eat ruin the person for whom Christ died!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And if thi brother be maad sori in conscience for mete, now thou walkist not aftir charite. Nyle thou thorouy thi mete lese hym, for whom Crist diede.

Contextual Overview

1 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive his approval. 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. 6 Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. 10 So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thy brother: Ezekiel 13:22, 1 Corinthians 8:12

now: Romans 13:10, Romans 15:2, 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 5:13, Philippians 2:2-4

charitably: Gr. according to charity

Destroy: 1 Corinthians 8:11, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:2

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:2 - General Numbers 32:15 - ye shall 1 Samuel 26:19 - they have driven 1 Kings 15:26 - in his sin Nehemiah 5:8 - shall they Psalms 73:15 - offend Ezekiel 13:19 - to slay Daniel 1:8 - defile Mark 9:41 - because Acts 15:29 - ye abstain Romans 14:3 - despise Romans 14:20 - For 1 Corinthians 6:12 - are not 1 Corinthians 9:18 - that I 1 Corinthians 10:23 - things are lawful 1 Corinthians 10:28 - eat 1 Corinthians 10:29 - not 1 Corinthians 16:14 - General Galatians 2:18 - General Philippians 2:5 - General 1 Timothy 1:5 - charity

Cross-References

Genesis 14:2
fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).
Genesis 14:3
This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea).
Deuteronomy 15:2
This is how it must be done. Everyone must cancel the loans they have made to their fellow Israelites. They must not demand payment from their neighbors or relatives, for the Lord 's time of release has arrived.
1 Kings 15:18
Asa responded by removing all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it with some of his officials to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message:
Psalms 112:5
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
Acts 9:2
He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat,.... The apostle proceeds to give reasons why, though he was so fully persuaded that nothing was unclean of itself, and so he, and any other of the same persuasion, might lawfully eat anything; yet they should forbear, and not make use of this liberty; because if a brother should be grieved by it, that is, either should be concerned and troubled at it inwardly, both because the person that eats is thought by him to have transgressed a command of God, and because he himself is not only despised as a weak brother, but as if he was a "judaizing" Christian, and walked not uprightly, according to the truth of the Gospel; or else should be emboldened thereby to eat, and so wound and defile his weak conscience; or be so galled and offended at it, as to stumble and fall off from his profession of Christianity, and withdraw his communion, as judging there is nothing in it, no regard being had to the law of God:

now walkest thou not charitably; this is a breach of the rule of charity or brotherly love; such an one is a brother, and though a weak one, yet he is to be loved as a brother, and to be charitably walked with: true charity, or love, vaunts not itself over, nor is it puffed up against a weak brother; nor is it unconcerned for his peace, but bears with his weaknesses, and forbears the use of things grieving to him:

destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. This is to be understood, not of eternal destruction, that can never be thought to be either in the will or power of any man; such a degree of malice can never arise in the heart of any, to wish for, desire, or take any step towards the eternal damnation of another; and could any thing of this kind be among the men of the world, yet surely not among brethren of the same faith, and in the same church state; and were there any so wicked as to desire this, yet it is not in their power to compass it, for none can destroy eternally but God; see

Matthew 10:28; besides, it is not reasonable to suppose, that eternal damnation should follow upon eating things indifferent, or be caused by an offence either given or taken through them; moreover, though such as only think themselves, or profess themselves, or are only thought by others to be such, for whom Christ died, may be eternally destroyed, yet none of those can, for whom Christ really died; for they are his special people, his peculiar friends, his own sheep, his body the church, which can never perish; and he, by dying, has procured such blessings for them, such as a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, peace with God, and eternal life, which will for ever secure them from destruction: besides, should anyone of them be destroyed, the death of Christ would be so far in vain, nor would it appear to be a sufficient security from condemnation, nor a full satisfaction to the justice of God; or God must be unjust, to punish twice for the same fault: but this is to be understood of the destruction of such a man's peace and comfort, which is signified by grieving, stumbling, offending, and making him weak; and the words are a fresh reason, why they that are strong in the faith of Christian liberty, should nevertheless forbear the use of it, to preserve the peace of a weak brother; which is a matter of importance, and the rather to be attended to, since it is the peace of one that belongs to Christ, whom he has so loved as to die for, and therefore should be the object of the regard and affections of such as believe in Christ and love him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But if thy brother ... - This address is to the “Gentile” convert. In the previous verse, Paul admitted. that the prejudice of the Jew was not well-founded. But admitting that still the question was, “how” he should be treated while he had that prejudice. The apostle here shows the Gentile that “he” ought not so to act as unnecessarily to wound his feelings, or to grieve him.

Be grieved - Be pained; as a conscientious man always is, when he sees another, and especially a Christian brother, do anything which “he” esteems to be wrong. The “pain” would be real, though the “opinion” from which it arose might not be well founded.

With thy meat - Greek, On account of meat, or food; that is, because “you” eat what he regards as unclean.

Now walkest - To “walk,” in the Sacred Scriptures, often denotes to act, or to do a thing; Mark 7:5; Acts 21:21; Romans 6:4; Romans 8:1, Romans 8:4. Here it means that if the Gentile convert persevered in the use of such food, notwithstanding the conscientious scruples of the Jew, he violated the law of love.

Charitably - Greek, According to charity, or love; that is, he would violate that law which required him to sacrifice his own comfort to promote the happiness of his brother; 1Co 13:5; 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 10:28-29; Philippians 2:4, Philippians 2:21.

Destroy not him - The word “destroy” here refers, doubtless, to the ruin of the soul in hell. It properly denotes ruin or destruction, and is applied to the ruin or “corruption” of various things, in the New Testament. To life Matthew 10:39; to a reward, in the sense of “losing” it Mark 10:41; Luke 15:4; to food John 6:27; to the Israelites represented as lost or wandering Matthew 10:6; to “wisdom” that is rendered “vain” 1 Corinthians 1:9; to “bottles,” rendered “useless” Matthew 9:17, etc. But it is also frequently applied to destruction in hell, to the everlasting ruin of the soul; Matthew 10:28, “Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell;” Matthew 18:14; John 3:15; Romans 2:12. That “this” is its meaning here is apparent from the parallel place in 1 Corinthians 8:11, “And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish.” If it be asked how the eating of meat by the Gentile convert could be connected with the perdition of the Jew, I reply, that the apostle supposes that in this way an occasion of stumbling would be afforded to him, and he would come into condemnation. He might be led by example to partake against his own conscience, or he might be excited to anger, disgust, and apostasy from the Christian faith. Though the apostle believed that all who were true Christians would be saved, Romans 8:30-39, yet he believed that it would be brought about by the use of means, and that nothing should be done that would tend to hinder or endanger their salvation; Hebrews 6:4-9; Hebrews 2:1. God does not bring his people to heaven without the use of “means adapted to the end,” and one of those means is that employed here to warn professing Christians against such conduct as might jeopard the salvation of their brethren.

For whom Christ died - The apostle speaks here of the possibility of endangering the salvation of those for whom Christ died, just as he does respecting the salvation of those who are in fact Christians. By those for whom Christ died, he undoubtedly refers here to “true Christians,” for the whole discussion relates to them, and them only; compare Romans 14:3-4, Romans 14:7-8. This passage should not be brought, therefore, to prove that Christ died for all people, or for any who shall finally perish. Such a doctrine is undoubtedly true (in this sense; that there is in the death of Christ a “sufficiency for all,” and that the “offer” is to all.) (compare 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 1 John 2:2; 2 Peter 2:1), but it is not the truth which is taught here. The design is to show the criminality of a course that would tend to the ruin of a brother. For these weak brethren, Christ laid down his precious life. He loved them; and shall we, to gratify our appetites, pursue a course which will tend to defeat the work of Christ, and ruin the souls redeemed by his blood?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 14:15. If thy brother be grieved — If he think that thou doest wrong, and he is in consequence stumbled at thy conduct.

Now walkest thou not charitably. — κατα αγαπην, According to love; for love worketh no ill to its neighbour; but by thy eating some particular kind of meat, on which neither thy life nor well-being depends, thou workest ill to him by grieving and distressing his mind; and therefore thou breakest the law of God in reference to him, while pretending that thy Christian liberty raises thee above his scruples.

Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. — This puts the uncharitable conduct of the person in question in the strongest light, because it supposes that the weak brother may be so stumbled as to fall and perish finally; even the man for whom Christ died. To injure a man in his circumstances is bad; to injure him in his person is worse; to injure him in his reputation is still worse; and to injure his soul is worst of all. No wickedness, no malice, can go farther than to injure and destroy the soul: thy uncharitable conduct may proceed thus far; therefore thou art highly criminal before God.

From this verse we learn that a man for whom Christ died may perish, or have his soul destroyed; and destroyed with such a destruction as implies perdition; the original is very emphatic, μη - εκεινον απολλυε, ὑπερ οὑ Χριστος απεθανε. Christ died in his stead; do not destroy his soul. The sacrificial death is as strongly expressed as it can be, and there is no word in the New Testament that more forcibly implies eternal ruin than the verb απολλυω, from which is derived that most significant name of the Devil, ο απολλυων, the DESTROYER, the great universal murderer of souls.


 
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