The Law of Liberty

14 Receive(A) one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he (B)may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and (C)let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. (D)Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

(E)One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who (F)observes the day, observes it to the Lord; [a]and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for (G)he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For (H)none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we (I)live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For (J)to this end Christ died [b]and rose and lived again, that He might be (K)Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For (L)we shall all stand before the judgment seat of [c]Christ. 11 For it is written:

(M)As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then (N)each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another [d]anymore, but rather resolve this, (O)not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The Law of Love

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus (P)that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. (Q)Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 (R)Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 (S)for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and (T)peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in [e]these things (U)is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 (V)Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which (W)one may [f]edify another. 20 (X)Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. (Y)All things indeed are pure, (Z)but it is evil for the man who eats with [g]offense. 21 It is good neither to eat (AA)meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles [h]or is offended or is made weak. 22 [i]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. (AB)Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for (AC)whatever is not from faith is [j]sin.

Bearing Others’ Burdens

15 We (AD)then who are strong ought to bear with the [k]scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (AE)Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to [l]edification. (AF)For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, (AG)“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For (AH)whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the [m]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (AI)Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may (AJ)with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

Therefore (AK)receive one another, just (AL)as Christ also received [n]us, to the glory of God. Now I say that (AM)Jesus Christ has become a [o]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, (AN)to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and (AO)that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

(AP)“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”

10 And again he says:

(AQ)“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”

11 And again:

(AR)“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!”

12 And again, Isaiah says:

(AS)“There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all (AT)joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

14 Now (AU)I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, (AV)filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish [p]one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, (AW)because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that (AX)I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the (AY)offering [q]of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus (AZ)in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things (BA)which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, (BB)to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 (BC)in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, (BD)lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written:

(BE)“To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand.”

Plan to Visit Rome

22 For this reason (BF)I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and (BG)having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, [r]I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, (BH)and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may (BI)enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now (BJ)I am going to Jerusalem to [s]minister to the saints. 26 For (BK)it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For (BL)if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, (BM)their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them (BN)this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 (BO)But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing [t]of the gospel of Christ.

30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and (BP)through the love of the Spirit, (BQ)that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 (BR)that I may be delivered from those in Judea who [u]do not believe, and that (BS)my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 (BT)that I may come to you with joy (BU)by the will of God, and may (BV)be refreshed together with you. 33 Now (BW)the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Sister Phoebe Commended

16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in (BX)Cenchrea, (BY)that you may receive her in the Lord (BZ)in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Greeting Roman Saints

Greet (CA)Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet (CB)the church that is in their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is (CC)the firstfruits of [v]Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the (CD)apostles, who also (CE)were in Christ before me.

Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my [w]countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, (CF)chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

16 (CG)Greet one another with a holy kiss. [x]The churches of Christ greet you.

Avoid Divisive Persons

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those (CH)who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and (CI)avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord [y]Jesus Christ, but (CJ)their own belly, and (CK)by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For (CL)your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be (CM)wise in what is good, and [z]simple concerning evil. 20 And (CN)the God of peace (CO)will crush Satan under your feet shortly.

(CP)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Greetings from Paul’s Friends

21 (CQ)Timothy, my fellow worker, and (CR)Lucius, (CS)Jason, and (CT)Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

23 (CU)Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. (CV)Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 (CW)The[aa] grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Benediction

25 [ab]Now (CX)to Him who is able to establish you (CY)according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, (CZ)according to the revelation of the mystery (DA)kept secret since the world began 26 but (DB)now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for (DC)obedience to the faith— 27 to (DD)God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:6 NU omits the rest of this sentence.
  2. Romans 14:9 NU omits and rose
  3. Romans 14:10 NU God
  4. Romans 14:13 any longer
  5. Romans 14:18 NU this thing
  6. Romans 14:19 build up
  7. Romans 14:20 A feeling of giving offense
  8. Romans 14:21 NU omits the rest of v. 21.
  9. Romans 14:22 NU The faith which you have—have
  10. Romans 14:23 M puts Rom. 16:25–27 here.
  11. Romans 15:1 weaknesses
  12. Romans 15:2 building up
  13. Romans 15:4 perseverance
  14. Romans 15:7 NU, M you
  15. Romans 15:8 minister
  16. Romans 15:14 M others
  17. Romans 15:16 Consisting of
  18. Romans 15:24 NU omits I shall come to you and joins Spain with the next sentence.
  19. Romans 15:25 serve
  20. Romans 15:29 NU omits of the gospel
  21. Romans 15:31 are disobedient
  22. Romans 16:5 NU Asia
  23. Romans 16:11 Or relative
  24. Romans 16:16 NU All the churches
  25. Romans 16:18 NU, M omit Jesus
  26. Romans 16:19 innocent
  27. Romans 16:24 NU omits v. 24.
  28. Romans 16:25 M puts Rom. 16:25–27 after Rom. 14:23.

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