Romans 14:21
 
Romans 14:21
(KJV) It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
(1611 KJV) It is good neither to eate flesh, nor to drinke wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weake.
(1526 Tyndale) It is good nether to eate flesshe nether to drincke wyne nether eny thinge wherby thy brother stombleth ether falleth or is made weake.
(1382 Wycliffe) It is good to not ete fleisch, and to not drynke wyn, nethir in what thing thi brother offendith, or is sclaundrid, or is maad sijk.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) It is a good thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.
(NIV) It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
(NASV) It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
(THE MESSAGE) So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.
(NLT) It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.
(ESV) It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
(CEV) It is best not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that causes problems for other followers of the Lord.
(1901 ASV) It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything whereby thy brother stumbleth.
(NLV) Do not eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it would make your Christian brother fall into sin.
(HCSB) It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.
(NCV) It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that will cause your brother or sister to sin.
(RSV) it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother stumble.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) It is well not to eat flesh or to drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles.
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
kalon to mh jagein krea mhde piein oinon mhde en w o adeljoV sou proskoptei h skandalizetai h asqenei
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
kalon to mh jagein krea mhde piein oinon mhde en w o adeljoV sou proskoptei
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit (original)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
048 - Fifth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit (corrected)
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century
L 020 - Ninth century
P 025 - Ninth century
Psi 044 - Eight/Ninth/ century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “or is offended or is made weak”
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
This verse warns believers that our actions can have three consequences in the lives of other believers. The first is that a weaker brother can stumble. The word is in the present, active, indicative which means that our actions may cause a weaker brother to “strike or beat against.” If a brother sees us committing a sinful action without any remorse, then they might also begin to act sinfully and worse than the one who is offending. They would be striking out against the teachings of Scripture. The mushrooming effect of sin is devastating in the life of any believer but it is worse in a weaker brother or sister. The second consequence which is omitted from the modern versions is a weaker brother will be offended. The word “offended” in the Greek is where we get our word “scandal.” When a weaker brother sins without remorse, it can create a great scandal in the body of Christ and can also cause a scandal from the unbelievers who see these actions. The third effect which is omitted from the modern versions is that a brother or sister is weakened. If we act sinfully in front of a weaker brother or sister, they will become weaker in their Christian walk especially if they adopt the habits we are exhibiting in front of them. God warns that Christians must be attuned to those weaker brethren all around us because we can convey the wrong attitude and thereby creating dreadful circumstances in the life of a younger believer. It is a shame that the modern versions do not seem to care about the nurturing responsibility of mature believers. Then again, it is hard to mature when using a false version. I knew a minister who used the NKJV and believed that drinking highballs, beer, and women wearing short skirts are a part of Christian liberty. Need I say more?

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