Romans 14:2 kjv
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Romans 14:2 nkjv
For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Romans 14:2 niv
One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
Romans 14:2 esv
One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.
Romans 14:2 nlt
For instance, one person believes it's all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.
Romans 14 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 14:2 | For one person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. | Romans 14:5; Galatians 4:10; Colossians 2:16-17 |
| Isaiah 58:13 | If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your own pleasure on my holy day... | Sabbath observance and its proper approach |
| Galatians 4:10 | You observe days and months and seasons and years. | Jewish festival observance critique |
| Colossians 2:16 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. | Warning against legalistic judgment on observances |
| Matthew 15:11 | It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person. | Focus shifts from external to internal purity |
| Acts 15:28-29 | For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. | Apostolic decree regarding necessary practices |
| Romans 14:3 | Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. | Mutual non-judgment is crucial |
| Romans 14:4 | Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to uphold him. | Personal accountability to God |
| Romans 14:13 | Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather decide this: to put no occasion to stumble before his brother or before his sister. | Principle of not causing others to stumble |
| 1 Corinthians 8:8 | Food will not commend us to God. We are neither the worse for not eating, nor the better for eating. | Food observances are indifferent in themselves |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. | All actions are to be done for God's glory |
| 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 | Take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. But when you sin against your brothers and wound their conscience... | Protecting weaker brothers’ conscience |
| Romans 12:3 | For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. | Humility in self-assessment and judgment |
| Ephesians 4:2-3 | 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. | Encouragement to live in unity and love |
| Philippians 2:3 | Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. | Essential attitude of humility |
| Romans 14:22 | The faith that you have, hold it just between yourself and God. The man who eats without doubting is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. | Personal conviction and faith |
| 1 Corinthians 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 perfected into the same mind and the same judgment. | Plea for unity and common understanding |
| Romans 15:7 | Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. | Mutual acceptance as Christ accepted us |
| Mark 2:27 | And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. | Sabbath's purpose was for human benefit |
| Leviticus 23 | ... | Chapters detailing appointed festivals |
Romans 14 verses
Romans 14 2 Meaning
One person esteems one day above another, while another esteems every day alike. This verse addresses the diversity of practice and conviction regarding the observance of special days, particularly those related to the Mosaic Law or perhaps newer Christian observances. The core issue is the differing personal judgments of believers about the importance or neutrality of certain days.
Romans 14 2 Context
This verse is part of Romans chapter 14, which deals with the issue of differences among believers, particularly concerning disputable matters such as diet and the observance of certain days. In the early church, this often involved Jewish believers who adhered to Old Testament laws concerning clean and unclean foods and Sabbath observance, and Gentile believers who did not. The church in Rome was composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, leading to potential friction. The entire chapter is an exhortation from Paul for believers to exercise love and forbearance towards one another, accepting those with weaker consciences or different convictions, without passing judgment or causing division within the body of Christ. The context emphasizes that true Christianity is about internal righteousness and love, not external ritualistic practices that might be interpreted differently.
Romans 14 2 Word Analysis
O̔ mèv (ho men): "One," masculine definite article ("the") combined with the particle mèn ("indeed," "on the one hand"). It introduces the first party in a contrast. It signifies "as for one," setting up a comparative statement.
Pròs (pros): "To," "towards," "in relation to." Here, it indicates the basis of estimation or preference.
Hēméra (hēmera): "Day." In this context, it likely refers to specific appointed days, such as the Sabbath or Jewish festivals, but could also refer to a regular day.
Apò (apo): "From." Here, it denotes distinction or elevation above.
Hēméra (hēmera): "Day." Again, signifying a specific day being set apart or held in higher regard.
O̔ dè (ho de): "But the other," masculine definite article ("the") combined with the particle dè ("but," "on the other hand"). It introduces the second party in the contrast, opposing the first.
Hápaxa (hapax): "Every day," "always," "uniformly." It indicates a consistent and equal regard for all days. It can imply that no day is distinguished from another, or that all days are viewed as the Lord's or have equal importance in terms of their potential for worship and service.
Phrase/Group Analysis:
- "He esteems one day above another": This highlights a distinction made by a believer regarding specific days, assigning them greater importance or observance. It implies a set-apart nature for certain days.
- "Another esteems every day alike": This phrase captures a contrasting view, where no day is given special emphasis over another. This could stem from a belief that all days are equally consecrated by God or that the Old Testament observances are no longer binding.
Romans 14 2 Bonus Section
The diversity in esteeming days can be understood within the broader biblical narrative concerning the Law. The Old Covenant established specific times of worship, feasts, and Sabbaths, which were signs pointing towards Christ and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. With the coming of Christ, the ceremonial and often symbolic aspects of the Law found their ultimate meaning and cessation for believers who were not under the Law in the same way. Therefore, differences in observance reflect varying understandings of how the New Covenant in Christ relates to the Old Covenant's ordinances. This is why Paul later connects such observances to "shadows" that are fulfilled in Christ (Colossians 2:16-17), suggesting that the substance has arrived. The issue is one of grace and conscience, not of inherently sinning or righteous acts regarding days.
Romans 14 2 Commentary
This verse speaks to the liberty and yet the responsibility of believers. While Christ has liberated believers from the bondage of ceremonial law, some continue to find meaning and purpose in observing specific days, perhaps rooted in their Jewish heritage or a personal conviction that these days hold spiritual significance. Others, having come from Gentile backgrounds or understanding their freedom in Christ, may see no binding obligation in these observances, viewing every day as the Lord's. The crucial point for Paul here is not the choice of observance itself, but the judgment and potential division that arise from these differences. He is establishing a principle of mutual acceptance and non-condemnation. The strength of one's faith, or the understanding of their freedom in Christ, should not be a weapon to condemn those who hold different views or practices, as these are matters between an individual believer and God.
- Practical Application: Today, this can apply to disagreements over holidays, fast days, or even whether Sunday is uniquely set apart as the Christian Sabbath in a binding sense for all Christians. The core principle remains: unity in Christ should not be fractured over matters where believers can have different consciences, as long as they are grounded in faith and not leading to sin or hindering the work of God.