Stumbling, the kingdom, and faith (Romans 14:13–23)
Says They must not judge one another or put a stumbling block in a brother’s way (14:13). “nothing is unclean in itself,” but it is unclean for whoever regards it so (14:14, BSB). Love forbids destroying one “for whom Christ died” (14:15, BSB). The kingdom is “not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (14:17, BSB). “All food is clean,” yet causing a stumble is wrong (14:20, BSB). Printed 14:21 also has ἢ σκανδαλίζεται ἢ ἀσθενεῖ; the BSB does not. Faith is kept before God (14:22). The doubter who eats is condemned; “everything that is not from faith is sin” (14:23, BSB).
Implies κοινός (koinos, “unclean”) is cultically unclean, not merely ordinary, from the “in itself” contrast. Verse 17 names the kingdom’s present character in this dispute.
Uncertain How 14:14 relates to Mark 7, Acts 10, and the food laws is open. The lean is Christian liberty, since “nothing” is unqualified, said “in the Lord Jesus,” and all food is clean (14:20): those laws do not bind in themselves, yet weak conscience is respected. Alternatives: idol-food only, some foods only, or a pastoral word leaving the question open.
Uncertain “Destroy” leans to serious spiritual harm, since the remedy is to stop the meal, not to pronounce a verdict; eternal ruin is the alternative, perseverance unsettled. 14:23b leans to a principle in this setting that may apply more broadly, since πᾶν reaches past one meal; the limited reading is the alternative.
Claims
- SaysThey must not judge or place a stumbling block in a brother’s way; nothing is unclean in itself, yet it is unclean for the one who regards it so; love forbids destroying with food one for whom Christ died; the kingdom is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; all food is clean, but causing a stumble is wrong; the printed Greek of 14:21 includes or is caused to stumble or is weak; faith is kept before God; the doubter who eats is condemned, and whatever is not from faith is sin.
- Impliesκοινός is cultically unclean here, not merely ordinary, from the contrast in itself, and 14:17 names the kingdom’s present character in this dispute.
- UncertainHow 14:14 relates to Mark 7, Acts 10, and the food laws is open. The lean is Christian liberty, because nothing is unqualified, the persuasion is in the Lord Jesus, and 14:20 calls all food clean; those laws are not binding in themselves, while the weak conscience is respected. Alternatives are idol-food only, some foods only, or a pastoral word leaving the question open.
- UncertainDestroy is leaned toward as serious spiritual harm, because the remedy is to stop the meal rather than pronounce a verdict; eternal ruin is the alternative, perseverance unsettled. Romans 14:23b is leaned toward as a principle in this setting that may apply more broadly, because everything reaches past one meal; the limited reading is the alternative.
Citations
- BSB public domain Rom 14:13–23
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 14:13–23
2026-11-10
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