Romans 14 2

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 verses

Romans 14 2 Meaning

Romans 14:2 describes a common difference among believers: one, strong in faith and conviction, understands that all food is permissible for consumption without moral reservation. The other, deemed "weak" in faith concerning Christian liberty, limits their diet, often to vegetables, due to conscience, lingering Mosaic dietary concerns, or fear of eating food associated with idol worship. This verse sets the stage for Paul's counsel on mutual acceptance and not judging one another over non-essential practices.

Romans 14 2 Context

Romans chapter 14 addresses the sensitive issue of how believers with differing convictions, particularly regarding practices not essential to salvation, should interact within the church. The Roman church likely consisted of both Jewish and Gentile converts. Jewish converts often struggled to completely abandon deeply ingrained dietary laws (e.g., kosher food, avoiding certain meats) and Sabbath observance. Gentile converts, freed from such laws, might struggle with meat that had been sacrificed to idols. This specific verse (14:2) immediately follows Paul's injunction to "accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters" (Rom 14:1). It highlights a core area of disagreement: diet. The context establishes the necessity for Christian love and unity to supersede personal opinions on secondary matters, preventing judgment and causing a brother to stumble. This whole chapter and the beginning of chapter 15 deal with the balance between Christian liberty and love for one another.

Romans 14 2 Word analysis

• One (ὃς μὲν, hos men): This phrase indicates "one indeed," setting up a contrast with "the other" that follows. It highlights individuality in faith expression.
• believes (πιστεύει, pisteuei): From pistis, meaning faith, trust, conviction. Here, it refers to a confident understanding of Christian liberty concerning food, based on their conviction in the finished work of Christ that rendered all foods clean. This is not about saving faith, but a specific application of faith to Christian living.
• may eat (φαγεῖν, phagein): An infinitive, "to eat." It conveys permission and ability.
• everything (πάντα, panta): Denotes all kinds of food, without distinction. This specifically counters the Mosaic dietary laws (Lev 11) that classified certain animals as unclean, and potentially Gentile practices where meat might have been offered to idols (1 Cor 10). It signifies the full freedom of Christian liberty.
• another (ὁ δὲ, ho de): "But the other," again marking the contrast with "one."
• is weak (ἀσθενῶν, asthenon): From astheneō, meaning weak, feeble, without strength. In this context, it refers not to a moral or spiritual deficiency in salvation, but a weakness or immaturity in understanding the full implications of Christian liberty, particularly regarding food. This individual's conscience may still be bound by previous traditions (Jewish laws) or fears (idol meat), leading to internal struggle.
• eats (ἐσθίει, esthiei): Similar to phagein, referring to the act of eating.
• vegetables (λάχανα, lachana): Refers to greens, herbs, and other plant-based foods. This diet could be adopted for several reasons: a complete avoidance of non-kosher meat, fear of eating meat offered to idols, or an ascetic discipline. For such a person, eating only vegetables was the "safe" option, avoiding potential sin in their conscience.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "One believes he may eat everything": This phrase encapsulates the core concept of Christian liberty regarding food. The believer is mature in their understanding that, under the New Covenant, the previous ceremonial distinctions about food have been abolished (Mark 7:19, Acts 10:15, Col 2:16). Their faith gives them the conviction that "everything" (clean meat, unclean meat, or idol-sacrificed meat) is permissible for consumption without defilement.
• "but the one who is weak eats only vegetables": This contrasts sharply, defining the "weak" brother. This "weakness" isn't a lack of saving faith, but a sensitivity of conscience concerning what is eaten. Their conviction, possibly shaped by their background (e.g., formerly Jewish, or a new convert easily troubled by idol food) or a misunderstanding of freedom, restricts them. Eating only vegetables avoids all potential pitfalls related to meat, allowing them to maintain a clear conscience. This distinction highlights that sincerity of conviction, though sometimes misinformed, must be respected.

Romans 14 2 Bonus section

The "weakness" described in Romans 14 is distinct from moral weakness or a lack of saving faith. It pertains specifically to one's conscience concerning secondary matters of Christian living (adiaphora), where scriptural teaching might not be universally perceived or where previous conditioning holds sway. The example of abstaining from meat could stem from:

• Jewish background: Adherence to Mosaic dietary laws, not fully comprehending their fulfillment in Christ.
• Idolatry concerns: Fear of inadvertently eating meat sacrificed to idols, which was prevalent in the Hellenistic world (as seen in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10).
• Asceticism: A sincere but misguided belief that spiritual growth is achieved through physical denial (cf. Colossians 2:20-23), potentially influenced by Stoic philosophies.Paul emphasizes that God has accepted both the weak and the strong (Rom 14:3), making individual convictions less important than their shared relationship with Christ. This implies a need for patience and theological education within the community to help the "weak" grow in their understanding of Christian liberty, while simultaneously guiding the "strong" to exercise their freedom responsibly and lovingly. The principle is that each believer stands or falls before their own Lord and should act according to their personal conviction and faith (Rom 14:5), always with an eye toward honoring God.

Romans 14 2 Commentary

Romans 14:2 provides the practical illustration for Paul's command to accept believers with differing non-essential convictions. It depicts two distinct expressions of faith regarding dietary choices within the church, setting up the tension that Paul resolves through the principle of love. The "strong" believer exercises their God-given freedom, understanding that no food is inherently unclean (Rom 14:14, 1 Tim 4:4). Their faith is mature in comprehending the implications of Christ's finished work and the abolition of ceremonial laws. In contrast, the "weak" believer is one whose conscience is not yet fully persuaded of this liberty, leading them to restrict their diet. This weakness is not a moral failing but a lack of robust understanding or a struggle to disentangle past religious strictures from present Christian freedom.

Paul's purpose here is not to label one group as superior or inferior in their core faith, but to emphasize that both groups, in their respective convictions, must live according to their conscience while also extending grace and not judging the other. The "strong" must not despise the "weak" for their scruples, and the "weak" must not condemn the "strong" for their liberty. The practical implication is a call to unity and love, recognizing that personal practices concerning disputable matters are subservient to the higher call of protecting a brother's conscience and the peace of the church. This principle can be applied to many modern disputable issues, where love for a fellow believer outweighs individual preferences or freedoms.