Romans 14 3

Romans 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.

Romans 14:3 nkjv

Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

Romans 14:3 niv

The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

Romans 14:3 esv

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.

Romans 14:3 nlt

Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

Romans 14 verses

Romans 14 3 Meaning

One person considers one day more holy than another, while another considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. This verse addresses the issue of disputing over days, particularly in the context of observing special days versus everyday life. It emphasizes individual conviction and mutual acceptance within the body of Christ. The core principle is that Christian liberty, while real, must be exercised with consideration for others and without causing division. True freedom in Christ leads to love and understanding, not judgment.

Romans 14 3 Context

Romans chapter 14 addresses issues of unity and potential division within the early church, particularly concerning differing practices regarding food laws and the observance of certain days. This chapter arises in the context of Jews and Gentiles being united in Christ, with some maintaining their adherence to Old Testament regulations and others, particularly Gentile converts, finding them no longer binding under the new covenant. The specific concern here is with those who are considered "strong" in their faith and conviction that such practices are not mandatory, versus those who are "weak" and are troubled by them. This tension highlights the need for love and understanding to prevent minor differences from becoming major schisms. The overarching theme of Romans is justification by faith and the practical outgoings of a life lived in Christ, which includes mutual love and acceptance.

Romans 14 3 Word Analysis

• O ne (tis - τις): Indefinite pronoun, signifying "a certain one" or "someone." It points to an individual within the broader community.
• p e r s o n (anthrōpos - ἄνθρωπος): Refers to a human being, man. Here, it denotes an individual believer.
• c o n s i d e r s (logizetai - λογίζεται): From logizomai (λογίζομαι), meaning "to reckon," "to calculate," "to consider," "to account," or "to think." It implies forming a judgment or opinion based on some reasoning or belief.
• o n e (mian - μίαν): Feminine accusative form of heis (εἷς), meaning "one." Here, it specifies a singular "day."
• d a y (hēmeran - ἡμέραν): Accusative singular of hēmera (ἡμέρα), meaning "day." It refers to a specific 24-hour period or a marked occasion.
• a b o v e (hyper - ὑπὲρ): Preposition meaning "over," "above," "for the sake of," or "beyond." In this context, it indicates preference or a higher valuation of one day compared to another.
• a n o t h e r (allēn - ἄλλην): Feminine accusative singular of allos (ἄλλος), meaning "other" or "another." It refers to a different day from the one previously mentioned.
• b u t (de - δὲ): Conjunction used for contrast or transition, similar to "but" or "however."
• a n o t h e r (allos - ἄλλος): Masculine nominative singular of allos (ἄλλος), meaning "other" or "another." It introduces the second type of person.
• c o n s i d e r s (logizetai - λογίζεται): As before, indicating a considered opinion or belief about the status of days.
• e v e r y (pasan - πᾶσαν): Feminine accusative singular of pas (πᾶς), meaning "all," "every," or "the whole." It emphasizes totality.
• d a y (hēmeran - ἡμέραν): As before, referring to any given day.
• a l i k e (isē - ἴση): Feminine nominative singular of isos (ἴσος), meaning "equal," "even," or "alike." It conveys the idea that all days are considered to have the same status or significance.
• E a c h (Hekastos - Ἕκαστος): Indefinite pronoun, meaning "each one" or "every one." It brings focus back to the individual.
• l e t (kratitō - κρατείτω): Third-person singular present imperative of kratō (κρατέω), meaning "to hold fast," "to grasp," "to keep firm," or "to be convinced." It's a command for each person to maintain their own conviction.
• h i s (heautou - ἑαυτοῦ): Reflexive pronoun, meaning "himself," "herself," "itself," or "themselves." Here, "his own."
• o w n (heautou - ἑαυτοῦ): Emphasizing personal conviction.
• m i n d (nous - νοός): Genitive singular of nous (νοῦς), meaning "mind," "understanding," or "reason." It refers to the person's inner conviction and assurance.
• f u l l y (plērōphorias - πληροφορίας): Genitive singular of plērōphoria (πληροφορία), meaning "full assurance," "conviction," or "certainty." This is a key term indicating a deep and complete personal understanding.

Word Group Analysis:

• "One person considers one day above another" (Tisēn hēmeran hyper allēn): This highlights the subjective nature of religious observances. It's about a personal estimation of a day's significance, not necessarily a universally binding rule for everyone. The practice could relate to Sabbaths, festivals, or specific fasting days common in Judaism.
• "another considers every day alike" (allos pasais hēmerais isē): This signifies the conviction that under the new covenant, all days possess a general equality in spiritual access, without needing to adhere to specific ceremonial days from the Old Testament. This view emphasizes that every day can be a day of worship and devotion to God.
• "Each let his own mind be fully assured" (Hekastos plērōphorias tō heautou nou): This is a crucial directive. It emphasizes individual responsibility for one's convictions before God. The term "fully assured" (plērōphorias) suggests a settled conviction, not a wavering opinion, that has been worked out in relation to God. It encourages personal conviction without dictating that one view is superior or that the other must be adopted.

Romans 14 3 Bonus Section

The Greek term for "fully assured" (plērōphorias) is significant. It is used elsewhere in the New Testament to denote a firm persuasion, a confident conviction. For example, in Hebrews 10:22, believers are exhorted to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." This signifies that such personal conviction is not superficial but deeply rooted in one's relationship with God and understanding of His word. Paul is not promoting relativism where "all truth is your truth." Instead, he's addressing liberty in matters where Scripture provides a spectrum of interpretation or application for conscientious believers, emphasizing unity and love above rigid adherence to non-essential practices. The ultimate judge is God, and our role is to accept one another as Christ has accepted us.

Romans 14 3 Commentary

This verse addresses a specific point of contention within the Roman church: the differing views on observing special days versus regarding all days as equally holy. The "strong" believer, often from a Gentile background, might feel that since Christ has fulfilled the law, no specific day carries Old Testament ceremonial weight. The "weak" believer, often from a Jewish background, might still feel bound by tradition or unsure if these distinctions are entirely abrogated.

Paul’s directive is clear: respect individual conviction. Instead of arguing or condemning, each believer must be fully convinced in their own mind about their practice before God. This doesn't mean there's no objective truth, but rather that concerning these secondary issues, God judges the heart and the sincerity of individual conviction. The key is to not impose one's view on another or to create disunity over practices that are not essential for salvation. This principle calls for humility, grace, and an emphasis on the unity that is found in Christ, recognizing that true holiness isn't about a calendar day but about Christ Himself, who is our righteousness.

Practical application: In the church today, this principle applies to various matters where Christians might hold different opinions but are not essential to the core doctrines of the faith. Examples include:

• Dietary practices: While some churches may encourage vegetarianism for health or ethical reasons, or have traditions around fasting, no specific diet is mandated for all Christians for salvation.
• Church calendar observance: Some denominations might emphasize particular feast days or fast days more than others. Believers should be free to follow their conscience, provided they are fully assured and do not judge others.
• Cultural practices: Engaging with or abstaining from certain cultural activities or holidays based on their perceived spiritual implications, as long as the decision is based on a well-thought-out conviction before God and doesn't become a point of division.