Romans 14:18

Romans 14:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
• New International Version (NIV)because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Context of Romans 14:18

16Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people. 19So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat.

Romans 14:18 word by word

ὁ γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ δουλεύων τῷ Χριστῷ εὐάρεστος τῷ θεῷ καὶ δόκιμος τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he thatδουλεύωdouleuō · be a slaveG1398
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• acceptableεὐάρεστοςeuarestos · well-pleasingG2101
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• approvedδόκιμοςdokimos · testedG1384
• of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for Romans 14:18

• Romans 14:4Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
• Romans 6:22But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life.
• Romans 12:11Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.
• Romans 16:18For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive.
• Mark 13:34It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
• John 12:26If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
• 1 Corinthians 7:22For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave.
• Galatians 6:15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!
• Colossians 3:24because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ.
• Romans 12:1Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.
• Genesis 4:7Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”
• Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.
• Acts 10:35but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him.
• 2 Corinthians 8:21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.
• Philippians 4:18For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.
• 1 Timothy 2:3Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior,

Commentaries on Romans 14:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18For 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18In 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…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. 1818. For he that in these things--"in this," meaning this threefold life. serveth Christ--Here again observe how, though we do these three things as a "kingdom of God," yet it is "Christ" that we serve in so doing; the apostle passing here from God to Christ as naturally as before from Christ to God--in a way to us inconceivable, if Christ had been viewed as a mere creature (compare 2Co 8:21). is acceptable to God, and approved of men--these being the…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 14:18

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Conscience
• Evil
• Expediency
• Fellowship
• Righteousness
• Self-Denial

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Christ, Messiah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Esteem
• Faith
• Receive
• Regard
• Revive
• Unclean

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