God’s Word Translation
Romans 14:1
1Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don’t get into an argument over differences of opinion.
Romans 14:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
- New International Version (NIV)Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
- English Standard Version (ESV)As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
Context of Romans 14:1
Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don’t get into an argument over differences of opinion. 2Some people believe that they can eat all kinds of food. Other people with weak faith believe that they can eat only vegetables. 3People who eat all foods should not despise people who eat only vegetables. In the same way, the vegetarians should not criticize people who eat all foods, because God has accepted those people.
Read all of Romans 14Romans 14:1 word by word
Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- ·δέde · thenG1161
- Him that is weakἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: weakG770
- in the faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- receive yeπροσλαμβάνωproslambanō · to takeG4355
- notμήmē · notG3361
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- doubtfulδιαλογισμόςdialogismos · reasoningG1261
- disputationsδιάκρισιςdiakrisis · discernmentG1253
Cross-references for Romans 14:1
- Romans 14:21The right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything else that causes another Christian to have doubts.
- Romans 4:19Abraham didn’t weaken. Through faith he regarded the facts: His body was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old, and Sarah was unable to have children.
- Romans 15:1So those of us who have a strong ⌞faith⌟ must be patient with the weaknesses of those whose ⌞faith⌟ is not so strong. We must not think only of ourselves.
- Job 4:3Certainly, you have instructed many people: When hands were weak, you made them strong.
- Isaiah 35:3Strengthen limp hands. Steady weak knees.
- Isaiah 40:11Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.
- Isaiah 42:3He will not break off a damaged cattail. He will not even put out a smoking wick. He will faithfully bring about justice.
- Ezekiel 34:4You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed away or looked for those that were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently.
- Zechariah 11:16I’m about to place a shepherd in the land. He will not take care of those that are dying. He will not search for the young. He will not heal those that have broken their legs or support those that can still stand. But he will eat the meat of the fat animals and tear off their hoofs.
- Matthew 12:20He will not break off a damaged cattail. He will not even put out a smoking wick until he has made justice victorious.
- Matthew 14:31Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”
- Matthew 18:6“These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.
- Luke 17:2It would be best for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to lose his faith.
- 1 Corinthians 3:1Brothers and sisters, I couldn’t talk to you as spiritual people but as people still influenced by your corrupt nature. You were infants in your faith in Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7But not everyone knows this. Some people are so used to worshiping false gods that they believe they are eating food offered to a false god. So they feel guilty because their conscience is weak.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them.
Commentaries on Romans 14:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Him that is weak in the faith - By this the apostle most evidently means the converted Jew, who must indeed be weak in the faith, if he considered this distinction of meats and days essential to his salvation. See on Romans 14:21; (note). Receive ye - Associate with him; receive him into your religious fellowship; but when there, let all religious altercations be avoided. Not to doubtful disputations - . These words have been variously translated and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Him that is weak - The design here is to induce Christians to receive to their fellowship those who had scruples about the propriety of certain things, or that might have special prejudices and feelings as the result of education or former habits of belief. The apostle, therefore, begins by admitting that such an one may be “weak,” that is, not fully established, or not with so clear and enlarged views about Christian liberty others might have. In the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The Jewish converts cautioned against judging, and Gentile believers against despising one the other. (1-13) And the Gentiles exhorted to take heed of giving offence in their use of indifferent things. (14-23) Verses 1-6 Differences of opinion prevailed even among the immediate followers of Christ and their disciples. Nor did St. Paul attempt to end them. Compelled assent to any doctrine, or conformity to outward observances without being convinced, would…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1whose faith is weak: This means having a sensitive conscience about doing certain things that Christian freedom would allow. In Rome, most believers who were weak in faith were Jewish Christians. Their consciences did not allow them freedom from some practices required by the Jewish law.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-23The subject here, and on to Ro 15:13, is the consideration due from stronger Christians to their weaker brethren; which is but the great law of love (treated of in the thirteenth chapter) in one particular form. 1. Him that is weak in the faith--rather, "in faith"; that is, not "him that is weak in the truth believed" [Calvin, Beza, Alford, &c.], but (as most interpreters agree), "him whose faith wants that firmness and breadth which would raise him above…Read the comment
Topics related to Romans 14:1
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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