Reference

Romans 14:21

Mixed / Contextual Application Permissible Use (Moderation)Dietary Laws Fulfilled / Abolished Total Abstinence

“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.”

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

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.

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Total Abstinence

Multi-Signal Classification

50% relevance

This verse was identified by multiple independent signals: structural patterns, prophetic context, and vocabulary — then validated by a probability model (Snorkel).

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Mixed / Contextual Application

The verse does not suggest a partial continuity or situational application of *clean/unclean principles*. It speaks to the principle of not causing a brother to stumble, which is a matter of Christian charity and conscience, not dietary laws or ritual purity. The "flesh" and "wine" here are not inherently unclean, but become problematic if their consumption leads a weaker brother to violate his own conscience or revert to former sinful practices. The verse is about the *impact* of an action on a

Permissible Use (Moderation)

This verse explicitly advises *against* eating flesh or drinking wine if it causes a brother to stumble, implying that abstention, not moderation, is the preferred course of action in such circumstances.

Dietary Laws Fulfilled / Abolished

This verse does not explicitly state that dietary laws are abolished or fulfilled. Instead, it focuses on the ethical consideration of one's actions (eating meat or drinking wine) in relation to their impact on a "brother," implying a principle of consideration rather than a declaration about the status of food laws themselves.

Total Abstinence

The verse does not command total abstinence from flesh or wine, but rather suggests avoiding them only when doing so would cause a "brother" to stumble, be offended, or be made weak, implying that their consumption is acceptable in other contexts.

Mixed / Contextual Application

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 8:13Thematic

“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”

Romans 14:1Thematic

“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.”

Matthew 18:6Thematic

“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Romans 14:13Thematic

“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”