Romans 14 4

Romans 14:4 kjv

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:4 nkjv

Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:4 niv

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Romans 14:4 esv

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 make him stand.

Romans 14:4 nlt

Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive his approval.

Romans 14 verses

Romans 14 4 Meaning

Romans 14:4 prohibits believers from judging another's conscience in matters that God alone governs, specifically concerning personal convictions about disputable practices within the faith. It asserts that each individual stands or falls before their divine Master, not human judgment, and that God possesses both the right and power to sustain those who are His. The verse emphasizes God's sovereign authority over individual spiritual standing and calls for humility and trust in His judgment, rather than self-appointed scrutiny of fellow believers.

Romans 14 4 Context

Romans 14 initiates Paul's instructions regarding "disputable matters" (Rom 14:1) or issues of Christian liberty that are not fundamental to salvation but can cause division among believers. The Roman church was diverse, composed of both Jewish and Gentile converts. Jewish believers often retained strong convictions about dietary laws (like avoiding meat offered to idols, or specific Kosher rules) and special observances (like particular days), while many Gentile believers, recently converted from paganism, often felt freed from such restrictions. This led to judgment and contempt between "weak" believers (who felt constrained by their conscience) and "strong" believers (who understood their freedom in Christ). Paul's teaching aims to foster unity, mutual acceptance, and love, preventing believers from stumbling one another or elevating their personal convictions to universal standards for the church. Romans 14:4 specifically addresses the issue of judgmentalism arising from these differing convictions.

Romans 14 4 Word analysis

• Who are you (Σὺ τίς, Sy tis): This is a strong rhetorical question implying profound impropriety and presumptuousness. It directly challenges the legitimacy and authority of the human judger. Sy is emphatic, highlighting the individual person and their lack of standing to perform such judgment.
• to judge (κρίνων, krinōn): From krinō, meaning to separate, distinguish, or decide. In this context, it refers to passing judgment, evaluating critically, or even condemning, implying a usurpation of divine prerogative. It's more than a mere observation; it's a pronouncement of right or wrong on a matter God has left to individual conscience.
• another's (ἀλλότριον, allotrion): Belonging to another. Emphasizes that the servant does not belong to the one judging. This highlights the boundary of personal responsibility and accountability. The servant is not yours, therefore his spiritual life is not your jurisdiction.
• servant (οἰκέτην, oiketen): Refers to a household servant or domestic slave. In this context, it signifies a person who serves a master. Every believer is God's servant, under His sole authority and ownership. The term highlights complete submission and loyalty to one's Master.
• To his own master (τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ, tō idio kyriō): Idio means "one's own," emphasizing that God is the specific and sole master of the servant in question. Kyrios is "Lord" or "master," denoting absolute ownership and authority. The accountability is directly to God, not to fellow believers.
• he stands or falls (στήκει ἢ πίπτει, stēkei ē piptei): This is a judicial expression. "Stands" means to be acquitted, approved, confirmed, or remain steadfast in a spiritual sense. "Falls" means to be condemned, rejected, or suffer spiritual downfall. This refers to the outcome of God's judgment regarding one's spiritual standing, particularly concerning one's faithfulness to Him. It relates to one's conscience and conduct before God in matters of liberty.
• And he will be made to stand (σταθήσεται, stathesetai): This is a future passive verb. It's a divine passive, indicating that God Himself is the one who will act to make the servant stand firm. It emphasizes God's sovereign power and grace to uphold His own. Even when a believer struggles or stumbles in these non-essentials, God has the power and desire to preserve them.
• for the Lord is able (δυνατὸς γὰρ ὁ Κύριος, dynatos gar ho Kyrios): Grar (for) explains why the servant will be made to stand. Dynatos means "powerful" or "able." Ho Kyrios (the Lord) again refers to God, particularly Christ. It underscores God's omnipotence, faithfulness, and compassion in sustaining His servants through their weaknesses and convictions. God's ability ensures their final standing.

Romans 14 4 Bonus section

The underlying principle of Romans 14:4 extends beyond the specific examples of food and days. It applies to all "disputable matters" – issues not explicitly commanded or forbidden by scripture that can create divisions if believers insist on their preferences as universal laws. This verse implicitly teaches about the supremacy of the individual conscience before God. While communal accountability and corrective discipline exist for clear sin (Matt 18:15-17, 1 Cor 5:11-13), this verse draws a boundary around matters of Christian liberty where individual believers must be allowed to follow their Spirit-led conscience. Furthermore, the future passive voice "will be made to stand" (stathesetai) speaks powerfully of God's active sustaining grace. It isn't just that God won't condemn them, but that He will enable them to maintain their spiritual integrity. This assures believers that their earnest, if sometimes scrupulous, efforts to honor God will not go unsupported by His divine power. This encourages humility in judgment and robust faith in God's capacity to oversee and bless the diverse expressions of piety within His unified Church.

Romans 14 4 Commentary

Romans 14:4 is a pivotal statement on Christian liberty, judgment, and divine sovereignty. Paul sharply questions the right of any believer to sit in judgment over another believer's spiritual practices in non-essential areas, framing it as an illegitimate intrusion into a relationship that is exclusively between the individual and God. Each Christian is fundamentally a "servant" (oiketes) of the "Lord" (Kyrios), meaning their ultimate allegiance and accountability are directly to God, not to the opinions or standards of other people. The choice to "stand or fall" is not determined by human verdict but by God's assessment of sincerity and faithfulness to Him in the private realm of conscience. The crucial declaration, "And he will be made to stand, for the Lord is able," reassures believers and simultaneously warns potential judges. It signifies that God is not only the ultimate Judge but also the active Upholder. He has the power to empower, forgive, and sustain His children, ensuring that even the "weak" brother, sincere in their conviction, will ultimately be vindicated before Him. This highlights God's grace, His capacity to accept diverse expressions of faith within the bounds of essential doctrine, and His commitment to His covenant with His people. Therefore, human judgment usurps God's prerogative and misunderstands His active role in the believer's life.

• Example 1: If one Christian criticizes another for listening to certain music or choosing particular clothing, this verse reminds us that their convictions in such matters are primarily to their own Master, Jesus, not to the subjective standards of another.
• Example 2: A "strong" believer who eats meat offered to idols should not condemn a "weak" believer who abstains for conscience' sake; God alone determines the spiritual standing of each.