1Welcome those who are weak in faith, but don't argue with them about their opinions.
2One person believes they can eat anything, but another, who is weak in faith, eats only vegetables.
3Those who eat everything should not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain things should not judge those who do, because God has accepted them.
4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? Their own master will decide if they stand or fall. And indeed, they will be made to stand, because God has the power to make them stand.
5One person considers one day more important than others. Another person considers every day to be the same. Each person should be completely convinced in their own mind.
6Those who observe a particular day do so for the Lord. Those who eat everything, eat for the Lord, for they give thanks to God. And those who do not eat certain things, do not eat for the Lord, and they also give thanks to God.
7Because none of us lives only for ourselves, and none of us dies only for ourselves.
8For if we live, we live for the Lord. And if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9For Christ died, rose, and lived again for this purpose: that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10So why do you judge your brother or sister? And why do you look down on your brother or sister? For we will all stand before Christ’s judgment seat.
11As it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God.”
12So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
13Therefore, let’s stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any obstacle or stumbling block in your brother’s or sister’s way.
14As a believer in the Lord Jesus, I am convinced that nothing is unclean in itself. It is only unclean to the person who considers it unclean.
15However, if you upset your fellow believer because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not destroy someone for whom Christ died just because of food.
16So do not let your good actions receive a bad reputation.
17Because God’s Kingdom is not about eating and drinking, but about doing what is right, having peace, and experiencing joy through the Holy Spirit.
18Whoever serves Christ in these ways pleases God and is approved by people.
19So then, let us pursue peace and focus on building each other up.
20Do not ruin God’s work for the sake of food. While all foods are clean, it is wrong for someone to eat in a way that causes another person to stumble.
21It is good not to eat meat, drink wine, or do anything else that causes your fellow believer to stumble, be offended, or become weak.
22Do you have a personal conviction about certain things? Keep it between yourself and God. Blessed is the person who does not have to condemn themselves for what they approve.
23But if someone has doubts about eating something, they are condemned if they eat it, because they are not acting out of faith. Anything that is not done in faith is a sin.
24Now, to God who can strengthen you according to my Good News and the message about Jesus Christ, which is based on the revelation of a mystery kept hidden for a long time,
25but now revealed and made known to all nations through the prophetic Scriptures, as commanded by the eternal God, so that they might believe and obey,
26to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever! Amen.