Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Romans 14:18

And when you serve Christ in this way, you please God and are approved by others.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Charitableness;   Commandments;   Conscience;   Evil;   Expediency;   Fellowship;   Righteousness;   Self-Denial;   Thompson Chain Reference - Favour, Human;   Favour-Disfavour;   Human;   The Topic Concordance - Meat;   Sacrifice;   Servants;   Stumbling/slipping;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Idol, idolatry;   Kingdom of god;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Law of Christ;   Strong and Weak;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Food Offered to Idols;   Romans, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Acceptance;   Ethics;   Judging;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Wine and Strong Drink;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Acceptance;   Acceptance (2);   Brotherly Love;   Commandment;   Religion (2);   Righteousness;   Romans Epistle to the;   Temptation, Trial;   Trade and Commerce;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - 18 Accepted Acceptable;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Interesting facts about the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Approve;   Drunkenness;   Here;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for May 30;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.
King James Version (1611)
For hee that in these things serueth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approued of men.
King James Version
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
English Standard Version
Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
New American Standard Bible
For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by other people.
New Century Version
Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God and will be accepted by other people.
Amplified Bible
For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Legacy Standard Bible
For he who in this way serves Christ is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Berean Standard Bible
For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Contemporary English Version
If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people.
Complete Jewish Bible
Anyone who serves the Messiah in this fashion both pleases God and wins the approval of other people.
Darby Translation
For he that in this serves the Christ [is] acceptable to God and approved of men.
Easy-to-Read Version
Whoever serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God, and they will be accepted by others.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For whosoeuer in these things serueth Christ, is acceptable vnto God, and is approoued of men.
George Lamsa Translation
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and is approved by men.
Lexham English Bible
For the one who serves Christ in this way is well-pleasing to God and approved by people.
Literal Translation
For the one serving Christ in these things is pleasing to God, and approved by men.
American Standard Version
For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.
Bible in Basic English
And he who in these things is Christ's servant, is pleasing to God and has the approval of men.
Hebrew Names Version
For he who serves Messiah in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
International Standard Version
For the person who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.2 Corinthians 8:21;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For who in these things serveth the Meshiha pleaseth Aloha, and before men is approved.
Murdock Translation
For he who is in these things a servant of Messiah, is pleasing to God, and approved before men.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For he that in these thynges serueth Christe, pleaseth God, and is comended of men.
English Revised Version
For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.
World English Bible
For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he that in these serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved by men.
Weymouth's New Testament
and whoever in this way devotedly serves Christ, God takes pleasure in him, and men highly commend him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he that in this thing serueth Crist, plesith God, and is proued to men.
Update Bible Version
For he that in this [way] is serving as a slave to Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.
Webster's Bible Translation
For he that in these things serveth Christ, [is] acceptable to God, and approved by men.
New English Translation
For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.
New King James Version
For he who serves Christ in these things [fn] is acceptable to God and approved by men.
New Living Translation
If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.
New Life Bible
If you follow Christ in these things, God will be happy with you. Men will think well of you also.
New Revised Standard
The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, he that in this doeth service unto the Christ, is acceptable unto God, and approved unto men.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he that in this serveth Christ pleaseth God and is approved of men.
Revised Standard Version
he who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For whosoever in these thinges serveth Christ pleaseth well God and is commended of men.
Young's Literal Translation
for he who in these things is serving the Christ, [is] acceptable to God and approved of men.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that in these thinges serueth Christ, pleaseth God, & is comended of me.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for he that thus pays his allegiance to Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Ride for Christ with an attitude like this and God will be pleased. Not only that, but you'll gain the respect of others.

Contextual Overview

1 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions. 2 Some people's faith allows them to eat anything, but the person who is weak in the faith eats only vegetables. 3 The person who will eat anything is not to despise the one who doesn't; while the one who eats only vegetables is not to pass judgment on the one who will eat anything; for God has accepted that person. 4 Who are you to judge the servants of someone else? It is their own Master who will decide whether they succeed or fail. And they will succeed, because the Lord is able to make them succeed. 5 Some people think that a certain day is more important than other days, while others think that all days are the same. We each should firmly make up our own minds. 6 Those who think highly of a certain day do so in honor of the Lord; those who will eat anything do so in honor of the Lord, because they give thanks to God for the food. Those who refuse to eat certain things do so in honor of the Lord, and they give thanks to God. 7 We do not live for ourselves only, and we do not die for ourselves only. 8 If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For Christ died and rose to life in order to be the Lord of the living and of the dead. 10 You then, who eat only vegetables—why do you pass judgment on others? And you who eat anything—why do you despise other believers? All of us will stand before God to be judged by him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in: Romans 14:4, Romans 6:22, Romans 12:11, Romans 16:18, Mark 13:34, John 12:26, 1 Corinthians 7:22, Galatians 6:15, Galatians 6:16, Colossians 3:24, Titus 2:11-14

is: Romans 12:1, Romans 12:2, Genesis 4:7, Ecclesiastes 9:7, Acts 10:35, 2 Corinthians 8:21, Philippians 4:18, 1 Timothy 2:3, 1 Timothy 5:4, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:20

and: 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 8:21, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, James 2:18-26, 1 Peter 3:16

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:24 - let him be 1 Samuel 2:26 - was in Esther 10:3 - accepted Proverbs 3:4 - shalt Proverbs 14:9 - among Ecclesiastes 2:26 - wisdom Zechariah 7:5 - did Zechariah 14:20 - shall there Luke 2:52 - and in Acts 2:47 - having Romans 16:10 - approved 2 Corinthians 7:11 - approved 2 Corinthians 10:18 - approved Ephesians 5:10 - acceptable 2 Timothy 2:15 - approved Hebrews 13:21 - working

Cross-References

Genesis 14:10
The valley was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah tried to run away from the battle, they fell into the pits; but the other three kings escaped to the mountains.
Genesis 14:22
Abram answered, "I solemnly swear before the Lord , the Most High God, Maker of heaven and earth,
Ruth 3:10
"The Lord bless you," he said. "You are showing even greater family loyalty in what you are doing now than in what you did for your mother-in-law. You might have gone looking for a young man, either rich or poor, but you haven't.
2 Samuel 2:5
he sent some men there with the message: "May the Lord bless you for showing your loyalty to your king by burying him.
Psalms 7:17
I thank the Lord for his justice; I sing praises to the Lord , the Most High.
Psalms 50:14
Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised.
Psalms 57:2
I call to God, the Most High, to God, who supplies my every need.
Psalms 76:2
He has his home in Jerusalem; he lives on Mount Zion.
Micah 6:6
What shall I bring to the Lord , the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him?
Acts 7:48
"But the Most High God does not live in houses built by human hands; as the prophet says,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For he that in these things serveth Christ,.... That is, in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; he whose faith is an obedient one, and embraces these things, and from the heart obeys them; who seeks righteousness alone by Christ, and peace and pardon through his blood; who rejoices in Christ Jesus, and puts no trust in the flesh, in moral duties or ceremonial services; and who, from principles of grace, serves Christ in a way of righteousness, wherein he possesses true peace of conscience, and abundance of spiritual joy and comfort: the Alexandrian copy and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version, read, "in this thing"; as if it referred only to the right use of Christian liberty, about things indifferent: such an one

is acceptable to God; in Christ the beloved, in whom he believes, from whom he derives all his peace, joy, and comfort; and whom he serves in righteousness and holiness, and through whom also all his services are acceptable unto God:

and approved of men; of good men, of such that can discern things that differ, and approve those that are excellent; and even of bad men, for such who live honestly and uprightly, who cultivate peace and friendship among men, and carry themselves cheerfully and civilly to all men, cannot but be approved of by the generality of them, though they may dislike them on other accounts.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In these things - In righteousness, peace, and joy.

Serveth Christ - Or obeys Christ, who has commanded them. He receives Christ as his “master” or “teacher” and does his will in regard to them. To do these things is to do honor to Christ, and to show the excellency of his religion.

Is acceptable to God - Whether he be converted from the Jews or the Gentiles.

And approved of men - That is, people will “approve” of such conduct; they will esteem it to be right, and to be in accordance with the spirit of Christianity. He does not say that the wicked world will “love” such a life, but it will commend itself to them as such a life as people ought to lead.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 18. For he that in these things — The man, whether Jew or Gentile, who in these things-righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, serveth Christ-acts according to his doctrine, is acceptable to God; for he has not only the form of godliness in thus serving Christ, but he has the power, the very spirit and essence of it, in having righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; and therefore the whole frame of his mind, as well as his acts, must be acceptable to God.-And approved of men; for although religion may be persecuted, yet the righteous man, who is continually labouring for the public good, will be generally esteemed. This was a very common form of speech among the Jews; that he who was a conscientious observer of the law, was pleasing to God and approved of men. See several examples in Schoettgen.


 
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