God’s Word Translation
Romans 14:17
17God’s kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God’s kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
Romans 14:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
- New International Version (NIV)For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Context of Romans 14:17
15So if what you eat hurts another Christian, you are no longer living by love. Don’t destroy anyone by what you eat. Christ died for that person. 16Don’t allow anyone to say that what you consider good is evil. God’s kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God’s kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives. 18The person who serves Christ with this in mind is pleasing to God and respected by people. 19So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other.
Read all of Romans 14Romans 14:17 word by word
οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ βρῶσις καὶ πόσις ἀλλὰ δικαιοσύνη καὶ εἰρήνη καὶ χαρὰ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- the kingdomὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- notοὐou · noG3756
- meatβρῶσιςbrōsis · eatingG1035
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- drinkπόσιςposis · drinkG4213
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
- peaceεἰρήνηeirēnē · peaceG1515
- joyχαράchara · joyG5479
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- theπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
- Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
Cross-references for Romans 14:17
- Daniel 2:44“At the time of those kings, the God of heaven will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed. No other people will be permitted to rule it. It will smash all the other kingdoms and put an end to them. But it will be established forever.
- Matthew 3:2“Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matthew 6:33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.
- Luke 14:15One of those eating with him heard this. So he said to Jesus, “The person who will be at the banquet in God’s kingdom is blessed.”
- Luke 17:20The Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s kingdom would come. He answered them, “People can’t observe the coming of God’s kingdom.
- John 3:3Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:20God’s kingdom is not just talk, it is power.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals,
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12you should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8Food will not affect our relationship with God. We are no worse off if we eat ⌞that food⌟ and no better off if we don’t.
- Colossians 2:16Therefore, let no one judge you because of what you eat or drink or about the observance of annual holy days, New Moon Festivals, or weekly days of rest—holy days.
- Hebrews 13:9Don’t get carried away by all kinds of unfamiliar teachings. Gaining inner strength from God’s kindness is good for us. This strength does not come from following rules about food, rules that don’t help those who follow them.
- Isaiah 45:24It will be said of me, “Certainly, righteousness and strength are found in the Lord alone.” All who are angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.
- Jeremiah 23:5“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will grow a righteous branch for David. He will be a king who will rule wisely. He will do what is fair and right in the land.
- Daniel 9:24“Seventy sets of seven time periods have been assigned for your people and your holy city. These time periods will serve to bring an end to rebellion, to stop sin, to forgive wrongs, to usher in everlasting righteousness, to put a seal on a prophet’s vision, and to anoint the Most Holy One.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30You are partners with Christ Jesus because of God. Jesus has become our wisdom sent from God, our approval, our holiness, and our ransom from sin.
Commentaries on Romans 14:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For the kingdom of God - That holy religion which God has sent from heaven, and which be intends to make the instrument of establishing a counterpart of the kingdom of glory among men: see on Matthew 3:2; (note). Is not meat and drink - It consists not in these outward and indifferent things. It neither particularly enjoins nor particularly forbids such. But righteousness - Pardon of sin, and holiness of heart and life. And peace - In the soul, from a…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For the kingdom of God - For an explanation of this phrase, see the note at Matthew 3:2. Here it means that the uniquenesses of the kingdom of God, or of the Church of Christ on earth, do not consist in observing the distinctions between meats and drinks, it was true that by these things the Jews had been particularly characterized, but the Christian church was to be distinguished in a different manner. Is not - Does not consist in, or is not…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-18Verses 14-18 Christ deals gently with those who have true grace, though they are weak in it. Consider the design of Christ's death: also that drawing a soul to sin, threatens the destruction of that soul. Did Christ deny himself for our brethren, so as to die for them, and shall not we deny ourselves for them, so as to keep from any indulgence? We cannot hinder ungoverned tongues from speaking evil; but we must not give them any occasion. We must deny…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23Paul addresses a specific issue causing conflict in the church at Rome. The church encountered a dispute between those weak in faith and those strong in faith about certain practices (see 15:1). Throughout this section, Paul urges Christians to show patience and tolerance toward one another and their practices. He is convinced that people on both sides are genuine believers. He also believes that the issues they are arguing about are not essential to the…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1716-17. Let not then your good--that is, this liberty of yours as to Jewish meats and days, well founded though it be. be evil spoken of--for the evil it does to others.Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 14:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Romans 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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