Romans 14:1 kjv
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Romans 14:1 nkjv
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
Romans 14:1 niv
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
Romans 14:1 esv
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Romans 14:1 nlt
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
Romans 14 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 14:1 | "Welcome him whose faith is weak, without controversial quibbling." | Paul's instruction on unity |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined in the same mind and the same judgment." | Call for unity in the church |
| Eph 4:1-3 | "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." | Exhortation to unity and love |
| Phil 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." | Instruction on humility |
| Gal 5:13 | "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." | Freedom in Christ, but not for license |
| 1 Cor 8:9 | "Take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." | Warning about offending the weak |
| 1 Cor 8:11 | "And so because of your knowledge, your weak brother will perish— a brother for whom Christ died." | Consequence of offending the weak |
| 1 Cor 10:23-24 | "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let each of you seek not his own good, but the good of his neighbor." | Seek the good of others, not just self |
| Rom 15:1 | "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." | Obligation to bear with the weak |
| Rom 15:7 | "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory of God." | Welcome one another as Christ welcomed |
| 1 Thes 5:14 | "and we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone." | Admonish disorderly, encourage fainthearted, help weak |
| Col 3:12-13 | "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." | Qualities of the new self |
| Matt 7:1-2 | "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." | Warning against judging |
| Rom 2:1 | "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the very one who judges, practice the same things." | Those who judge others are also guilty |
| Lev 19:18 | "You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the people of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." | Love your neighbor as yourself |
| 1 Cor 9:22 | "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." | Becoming all things to all people |
| Acts 10:34 | "So Peter opened his mouth and said: 'Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,'" | God shows no partiality |
| John 13:34-35 | "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also, are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.'" | Love one another as a sign of discipleship |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." | Earnestly love one another |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." | Body of Christ with many members |
Romans 14 verses
Romans 14 1 Meaning
This verse speaks about welcoming believers who are weak in faith concerning matters that are not essential to salvation. It emphasizes accepting them without judgment or contention over their personal convictions. The core message is about maintaining unity in the body of Christ, even amidst differing understandings on disputable issues.
Romans 14 1 Context
Romans chapter 14 addresses practical issues within the Roman church concerning dietary practices and the observance of certain days. The "weak" in faith likely refer to Jewish believers who still adhered to Old Testament laws regarding clean and unclean foods and possibly festivals. The "strong" were those Gentiles who understood that these Old Testament dietary and ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Christ and were therefore no longer binding for believers. This led to potential division and judgmental attitudes within the church, prompting Paul to offer guidance on how to maintain unity and peace despite these differences.
Romans 14 1 Word Analysis
"Welcome" (proslambanw - proslambanō): This Greek word means to receive favorably, to accept, to embrace. It implies an active, welcoming attitude, not a passive tolerance. It suggests drawing someone in and making them feel part of the community. It echoes God's welcoming of believers into His family.
"him" (autou - autou): Refers to the person, specifically the brother whose faith is considered "weak."
"whose faith" (ths lstheneias - tēs astheneias): "Astheneias" literally means weakness or feebleness, often referring to a lack of strength, either physical or spiritual. In this context, it refers to a weaker conviction or understanding regarding certain practices.
"is weak" (tsne - asthenes): An adjective describing the state of his faith as lacking in robust understanding or conviction on these specific issues. It is not a condemnation but a description of his current spiritual development or conviction level.
"without" (ek/meta - ek/meta): Prepositions indicating separation from or continuation of something. Here it means "apart from" or "without engaging in."
"controversial" (diakriseōn - diakriseōn): This word refers to disputes, distinctions, judgments, or debates. In this context, it specifically means contentious debates or disputes over differing opinions and practices. It signifies passing judgment or engaging in critical discussions about what one perceives as wrong in another.
"quibbling" (logismōn - logismōn): The dative plural of "logismos," which means thought, reasoning, or judgment. When linked with "diakriseōn," it emphasizes the mental processes leading to critical evaluations and potentially harsh judgments of others' actions. It is the process of scrutinizing and finding fault with another's decisions.
Words-group by words-group Analysis
"Welcome him whose faith is weak": This is a call to reception. It’s about an affirmative, inclusive posture towards fellow believers, especially those whose understanding or practice differs on non-essential matters. The focus is on acceptance and inclusion, mirroring Christ’s acceptance of believers.
"without controversial quibbling": This part highlights the prohibition. It cautions against the argumentative spirit that dissects and judges others' choices. The emphasis is on avoiding disputes that damage fellowship over secondary matters of doctrine or practice. It’s about refraining from an ungracious, critical, and debate-prone attitude.
Romans 14 1 Bonus Section
The principle laid out here is directly related to the concept of the "mind of Christ" as described in Philippians 2, where believers are called to look out for the interests of others, not just their own. This practice of welcoming without disputing reflects Christ's own boundless acceptance of all who come to Him. The passage in Romans 14 emphasizes that true Christian maturity isn't about winning arguments but about winning people to Christ through loving unity. The Old Testament dietary laws, which formed the basis for some of these disputes, were part of the Mosaic covenant, which Christ fulfilled. Understanding this historical shift is crucial to grasping Paul’s argument that these laws are no longer binding for New Covenant believers, though consciences can still be bound by individual convictions.
Romans 14 1 Commentary
Paul’s counsel here is foundational for Christian community. The principle is not to allow personal convictions about secondary issues (like specific foods or observance days) to become grounds for division or judgment among believers. Those with a stronger grasp of Christian liberty should embrace those who are more scrupulous, recognizing that their conscience binds them, and that God has accepted them. Instead of arguing or criticizing, the strong should foster unity and edification. This does not mean abandoning truth or endorsing sin; rather, it concerns matters where believers, guided by conscience and varying levels of understanding, may differ. The goal is peace and mutual respect within the body of Christ, prioritizing love and the spiritual health of all members over personal preferences or argumentative righteousness.
Optional: Practical Usage Examples
- A Christian who abstains from alcohol should be welcomed by those who drink moderately, without judgment or debate about drinking itself.
- A believer who feels convicted to observe certain traditional Jewish feast days should be welcomed by those who do not, without contention.
- When a believer decides not to eat certain foods out of conviction (e.g., vegetarianism for personal conviction rather than an idol), others should accept their practice without trying to persuade them otherwise.