1Now receive the one being weak in faith — not for passing judgment on reasonings. [14:2] One indeed believes to eat all things, but the one being weak eats vegetables. [14:3] Let not the one eating hold in utter contempt the one not eating, and let not the one not eating judge the one eating — for God has received him. [14:4] You yourself, who are you who is judging another's household servant? To his own master he stands or falls. He will be upheld, however — for the Lord is able to uphold him. [14:5] One indeed judges a day above a day; another however judges every day alike. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind. [14:6] The one regarding the day regards it to the Lord. And the one eating eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And the one not eating, to the Lord he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God. [14:7] For no one of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. [14:8] For if we live, to the Lord we live; if we die, to the Lord we die. Whether therefore we live or we die, we are of the Lord. [14:9] For unto this end Christ both died and lived again: that he might rule over both the dead and the living. [14:10] But you yourself — why do you judge your brother? Or you also yourself — why do you hold your brother in utter contempt? For all of us will stand before the judgment seat of God. [14:11] For it has been written: "As I myself live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give acknowledgment to God." [14:12] So then, each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
ROM 14:1-12
The Law of Liberty
In the world it was spoken into
In the Roman urban context, the early Christian communities were diverse, comprising Jews and Gentiles with varying cultural and religious practices. The 'weak in faith' likely refers to those who adhered to Jewish dietary laws or observed specific holy days, while others felt free to eat all foods and treat every day alike. The text addresses tensions arising from these differences, urging mutual respect and avoiding judgment. The metaphor of a servant belonging to a master underscores the idea that each individual is accountable to God, not to fellow believers. The use of (household servant) highlights the intimate relationship between the servant and their master, emphasizing that judgment belongs to God alone. This passage reflects the broader Greco-Roman household structure and the honor-shame dynamics of the time, where public judgment could damage one's reputation.
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How other translations render this
ROM 14:1
- KJV
- Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
- BSB
- Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.
- Koinōnos
- Now receive the one being weak in faith — not for passing judgment on reasonings.
ROM 14:2
- KJV
- For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
- BSB
- For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
- Koinōnos
- One indeed believes to eat all things, but the one being weak eats vegetables.
ROM 14:3
- KJV
- Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
- BSB
- The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.
- Koinōnos
- Let not the one eating hold in utter contempt the one not eating, and let not the one not eating judge the one eating — for God has received him.
ROM 14:4
- KJV
- Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
- BSB
- Who are you to judge someone elseʼs servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
- Koinōnos
- You yourself, who are you who is judging another's household servant? To his own master he stands or falls. He will be upheld, however — for the Lord is able to uphold him.
ROM 14:5
- KJV
- One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
- BSB
- One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
- Koinōnos
- One indeed judges a day above a day; another however judges every day alike. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind.
ROM 14:6
- KJV
- He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
- BSB
- He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
- Koinōnos
- The one regarding the day regards it to the Lord. And the one eating eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And the one not eating, to the Lord he does not eat, and he gives thanks to God.
ROM 14:7
- KJV
- For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
- BSB
- For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
- Koinōnos
- For no one of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
ROM 14:8
- KJV
- For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
- BSB
- If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
- Koinōnos
- For if we live, to the Lord we live; if we die, to the Lord we die. Whether therefore we live or we die, we are of the Lord.
ROM 14:9
- KJV
- For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
- BSB
- For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
- Koinōnos
- For unto this end Christ both died and lived again: that he might rule over both the dead and the living.
ROM 14:10
- KJV
- But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
- BSB
- Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before Godʼs judgment seat.
- Koinōnos
- But you yourself — why do you judge your brother? Or you also yourself — why do you hold your brother in utter contempt? For all of us will stand before the judgment seat of God.
ROM 14:11
- KJV
- For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
- BSB
- It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”
- Koinōnos
- For it has been written: "As I myself live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give acknowledgment to God.
ROM 14:12
- KJV
- So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
- BSB
- So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
- Koinōnos
- So then, each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ROM 14:1
- being weak:The word translated 'being weak' here refers to a state of feebleness or sickness, often implying a lack of strength or conviction in one's beliefs or practices.
- passing judgment:The term used here for 'passing judgment' carries the sense of making a critical distinction or discernment, often with the implication of separating or evaluating right from wrong.
ROM 14:3
- he should despise,:The word translated 'he should despise' means to treat as nothing, to utterly reject or hold in contempt, often implying a strong sense of disdain or worthlessness.
ROM 14:4
- servant?:The word translated 'servant' specifically refers to a household slave, someone who is part of the master's household and completely under their authority, rather than a hired hand or general attendant.