Section 14:13–23

Do not cause others to sin

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome to stop considering some of their fellow believers as bad people. Instead they should choose not to hinder them. He told them that God does not consider any kind of food or any other kind of thing as not acceptable, but people who think that that food or thing is unacceptable, they should not eat it or use it. But those who find those things acceptable, they should not hurt the faith of those who find those things unacceptable. Righteousness, peace, and joy are the important things in God’s kingdom, not what you eat or drink. God is pleased when those who follow Jesus live in that way.

Paul encouraged the believers to do things that bring peace and encouragement for each other. They are not to hurt other believers over what they eat. They are not to cause other believers to stumble in their faith because of what they eat. Foods that might cause problems for other believers are to be eaten privately. A believer should not eat food if he has doubts about whether he should eat it or not. Everything that is not done in faith is sin.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble (English Standard Version)
-or-
Don’t Cause Problems for Others (Contemporary English Version)

Paragraph 14:13–18

14:13a

Therefore: Here the Greek word introduces a summary of 14:1–12.

let us stop judging one another: This clause indicates that Paul wanted the believers to stop passing judgment on other believers. He included himself in this command. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

we (incl.) must no longer condemn one another
-or-
we must stop considering each other as bad people
-or-
let’s stop criticizing each other (God’s Word)

us: Here this word refers to Paul and all the believers in Rome. It does not refer to only one group of believers in Rome, as it did in 14:2a or 14:2b.

judging: Here this phrase refers to considering someone to be a bad person. See how you translated this phrase in 14:3 or 14:10.

14:13b

Instead: This indicates contrast to passing judgment on one another. But the command in 14:13a is to stop passing judgment. So in some languages indicating contrast would confuse the connection. If that is true in your language, translate without the contrast. For example:

And/Also
-or-
Like-that, studiously make the mindset…
-or-
We-inc should think

make up your mind: This word refers to thinking about something and choosing a way to think about it or do something about it. Here are other ways to translate this word:

choose
-or-
be determined
-or-
decide (English Standard Version)

The Greek here has the word “this” as well. It refers to 14:13c and emphasizes that meaning. For example:

decide this : never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother

14:13c

not to: The Greek is simply the word not.

any stumbling block: This phrase refers to something that causes someone to stumble or trip. Here it is a metaphor that refers to doing anything that causes someone else to sin. Translate in a way that clearly indicates the meaning. Here are some ways:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

⌊something like⌋ a stumbling block

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

upset anyone’s faith (Contemporary English Version)

• Your language may have a cultural item that will have the same meaning as this metaphor.

a root/rock to stumble on

obstacle: The Greek word here refers to a trap. Here it is a metaphor that refers to doing anything that causes someone to do the wrong thing. Translate in a way that clearly indicates the meaning. Here are some ways:

• Use the literal sense of the Greek word. For example:

a trap (NET Bible)

• Change the metaphor to a simile and possibly explain why they are similar in your translation. For example:

⌊something like⌋ a trap ⌊that causes temptation⌋

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

temptation

General Comment on 14:13c

The meaning of the metaphor of a stumbling block is similar to the meaning of the metaphor of a obstacle/trap. In some languages it is more natural to translate the meaning with one word or phrase. For example:

Let us earnestly see to it that it is not our fault that our brothers should sin.
-or-
caused to sin

© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.