Romans 14:17 Meaning and Explanation
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God's kingdom is not about food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
What Does Romans 14:17 Mean?
Paul lifts the whole dispute to its true scale. The kingdom of God -- His reign in the believer's life -- does not consist of what one eats or drinks. To make diet the center is to mistake a trifle for the treasure.
What the kingdom does consist of is 'righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost': right standing and right living before God, peace among His people, and a joy the Spirit gives. These are the realities worth contending for. Beside them, debates over herbs and wine shrink to their proper size. The verse calls every believer to spend his zeal on the weighty things of God's reign rather than on the lesser matters that so easily divide.
Romans 14:17 in the Original Language
basileia (βασιλεία), 'kingdom' -- reign or rule; the active sovereignty of God over His people.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 14:17
What does Romans 14:17 mean?
God's kingdom is not about food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.