Bible Strands
Romans 14:16
Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle Paul writes to the Roman congregation during a dispute over dietary freedom and religious observance. He issues this command immediately after warning that causing a fellow believer distress over food violates Christian love.
The words — The aorist passive imperative βλασφημείσθω (blasphēmeisthō) literally commands that one's good should not be blasphemed or denigrated. It follows οὖν (oun), which ties the prohibition directly to the preceding warning about destroying a brother for whom Christ died.
The thread — This concern for how actions are perceived runs alongside 1 Corinthians 10:29, which prioritizes another person's conscience over personal freedom. It also aligns with Romans 12:17, which instructs believers to carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everyone.
Why it lands — The text commands believers to prevent their lawful practices from being unjustly labeled as evil. It requires readers to exercise personal freedom without provoking unnecessary offense or undermining communal peace.
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
Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 10:29 the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?
- Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
- 2 Corinthians 8:20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.