Study Desk

Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.

Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God."

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died.

For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat;

But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.

For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name";

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God.

For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed,

But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you