New King James Version
Romans 14:16
16Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
Romans 14:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.
Context of Romans 14:16
14I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Read all of Romans 14Romans 14:16 word by word
μὴ βλασφημείσθω οὖν ὑμῶν τὸ ἀγαθόν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Romans 14:16
- Romans 12:17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
- 1 Corinthians 10:29“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
- 2 Corinthians 8:20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from every form of evil.
Commentaries on Romans 14:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Let not then your good be evil spoken of - Do not make such a use of your Christian liberty as to subject the Gospel itself to reproach. Whatsoever you do, do it in such a manner, spirit, and time, as to make it productive of the greatest possible good. There are many who have such an unhappy method of doing their good acts, as not only to do little or no good by them, but a great deal of evil. It requires much prudence and watchfulness to find out the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Let not then your good - That which you esteem to be right, and which may be right in itself. You are not bound by the ceremonial law. You are free from the yoke of bondage This freedom you esteem to be a good - a favor - a high privilege. And so it is; but you should not make such a use of it as to do injury to others. Be evil spoken of - Greek, Be blasphemed. Do not so use your Christian liberty as to give occasion for railing and unkind remarks from…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 14:16
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries