Bible Strands
Romans 14:15
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church concerning disputes over dietary practices. He intervenes at a moment when believers are judging one another over what is permissible to eat.
The words — λυπεῖται (lupeitai) translates literally to "is grieved" or "is distressed," and βρῶμα (brōma) means "food" or "what is eaten."
The thread — The danger of a believer's conduct destroying another for whom Christ died appears in 1 Corinthians 8:11. The call to prioritize unity over personal liberty runs through Galatians 5:13 and Philippians 2:2.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to halt any action that causes another believer spiritual harm, regardless of the action's personal permissibility. It requires subordinating dietary freedom to the preservation of the brother or sister for whom Christ died.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 8:11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
- Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
- Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
- Romans 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
- Romans 15:2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
- Ezekiel 13:22 Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,
- Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.