Unclean, stumbling, and faith (14:13–23)
Says They must stop judging one another and not put a stumbling block or snare in a brother's way (14:13). Nothing is unclean (κοινόν) in itself, but it is unclean to anyone who thinks it so (14:14). Do not destroy (ἀπόλλυμι) with food one for whom Christ died (14:15). The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (14:17). It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything by which a brother stumbles, is caused to stumble, or is weak (14:21). Whatever is not from faith is sin (14:23).
Implies κοινός here is cultic "unclean" or "common," not merely "ordinary," from the lexical field and the "in itself" contrast. 14:17 describes the kingdom's present character in this dispute.
Uncertain How 14:14 relates to Mark 7, Acts 10, and the Torah food laws is disputed. A lean is taken toward Christian liberty about food (those laws not binding in themselves; the weak conscience respected). Alternatives: only idol-food, only some foods, or a pastoral word leaving the Torah question open. Not antinomianism; "nothing is unclean in itself" stands. "Destroy" (14:15): a lean toward serious spiritual harm over eternal ruin, not settling perseverance. A purely future reading of 14:17 may be named. 14:23b: a lean toward a principle stated here that may apply more broadly, not a slogan for every act; alternative: the strictly limited reading.
WH and NA28 omit the 14:21 clause (var.Rom.14.21.skandalizetai). For the doxology, see var.Rom.14.23.doxology.
Claims
- SaysThey are to stop judging one another and not put a stumbling block or snare in a brother's way; nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean; one must not destroy with food the one for whom Christ died; the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything by which a brother stumbles, is caused to stumble, or is weak; whatever is not from faith is sin (14:13–23).
- Impliesκοινός here is cultic unclean or common, not merely ordinary, from the lexical field and the "in itself" contrast. 14:17 describes the kingdom's present character in this dispute.
- UncertainHow 14:14 relates to Mark 7, Acts 10, and the Torah food laws is disputed; a lean is taken toward Christian liberty about food, including that those laws are not binding in themselves, while the weak conscience is still to be respected, without antinomianism and without denying "nothing is unclean in itself." A lean is taken toward reading "destroy" in 14:15 as serious spiritual harm, without settling perseverance or apostasy from this verse. A purely future reading of 14:17 may be named; no further lean is taken on that point. A lean is taken toward reading 14:23b as a principle stated in this setting that may be applied more broadly, not as a slogan for every act; the strictly limited reading is the main alternative.
Citations
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. κοινός (G2839) —
unhallowed, unclean
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. πρόσκομμα (G4348) —
an occasion of stumbling, a stumbling-block
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. προσκόπτω (G4350) —
to take offence at, stumble at
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. σκανδαλίζω (G4624) —
to put a snare or stumbling-block in the way
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. βασιλεία (G932) —
The kingdom is regarded as present
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. οἰκοδομή (G3619) —
building up, edifying
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 14:13–23
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BSB public domain Romans 14:14 —
nothing is unclean in itself
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BSB public domain Romans 14:15 —
Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
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BSB public domain Romans 14:17 —
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
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BSB public domain Romans 14:23 —
everything that is not from faith is sin
2026-11-09
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