Bible Strands
Romans 14:22
Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman church concerning disputes over non-essential practices like dietary choices and calendar observances. He instructs individual believers on how to navigate personal convictions without fracturing the community.
The words — The terms πίστιν (pistin, "faith" or "belief") and ἐνώπιον (enōpion, "before") frame the command to hold personal convictions privately before God. The verb ἔχε (eche, "keep" or "hold") directs the reader to maintain this stance without public imposition.
The thread — The theme of personal conviction and internal conscience appears in Romans 14:5 regarding day observances, 1 John 3:21 regarding a clear conscience before God, and James 3:13 regarding wisdom demonstrated through humble conduct.
Why it lands — The text states that individuals must keep their non-essential convictions between themselves and God, and that blessing follows when one does not self-condemn for approved actions. It requires readers to distinguish between personal liberty and communal responsibility, ending subjective guilt.
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
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Cross-references
- 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
- Romans 14:5 One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
- James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
- Romans 14:23 But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.
- Romans 14:2 For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
- Romans 14:14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
- Acts 24:16 In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.