Romans 14
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Him that is weak in the faith - By this the apostle most evidently means the converted Jew, who must indeed be weak in the faith, if he considered this distinction of meats and days essential to his salvation. See on Rom 14:21 (note). Receive ye - Associate with him; receive him into your religious fellowship; but when there, let all religious altercations be avoided. Not to doubtful disputations - Μη εις διακρισεις δια λογισμων. These words have been variously translated and understood. Dr. Whitby thinks the sense of them to be this; Not discriminating them by their inward thoughts. Do not reject any from your Christian communion because of their particular sentiments on things which are in themselves indifferent. Do not curiously inquire into their religious scruples, nor condemn them on that account. Entertain a brother of this kind rather with what may profit his soul, than with curious disquisitions on speculative points of doctrine. A good lesson for modern Christians in general.
Open source ↗SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED--CHRISTIAN FORBEARANCE. (Rom. 14:1-23) Him that is weak in the faith--rather, "in faith"; that is, not "him that is weak in the truth believed" [CALVIN, BEZA, ALFORD, &c.], but (as most interpreters agree), "him whose faith wants that firmness and breadth which would raise him above small scruples." (See on Rom 14:22-23). receive ye--to cordial Christian fellowship. but not to doubtful disputations--rather, perhaps, "not to the deciding of doubts," or "scruples;" that is, not for the purpose of arguing him out of them: which indeed usually does the reverse; whereas to receive him to full brotherly confidence and cordial interchange of Christian affection is the most effectual way of drawing them off. Two examples of such scruples are here specified, touching Jewish meats and days. "The strong," it will be observed, are those who knew these to be abolished under the Gospel; "the weak" are those who had scruples on this point.
Open source ↗Him that is weak in the faith,.... This address is made to the stronger and more knowing Christians among the Romans, how to behave towards those that were inferior in light and knowledge to them, with regard to things of a ritual and ceremonial kind: and by "him that is weak in the faith", is meant, either one that is weak in the exercise of the grace of faith, who has but a glimmering sight of Christ; who comes to him in a very feeble and trembling manner; who believes his ability to save him, but hesitates about his willingness; who casts himself with a peradventure on him; and who is attended with many misgivings of heart, faintings of spirit, and fluctuation of mind, about his interest in him: or one that is weak in the doctrine of faith; has but little light and knowledge in the truths of the Gospel; is a child in understanding; has more affection than judgment; very little able to distinguish truth from error; cannot digest the greater and more sublime doctrines of grace; stands in need of milk, and cannot bear strong meat; is very fluctuating and unsettled in his principles, and like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine: or rather one that is weak in his knowledge of that branch of the doctrine of faith, which concerns Christian liberty; and that part of it particularly, which respects freedom from the ceremonial law: it designs one, and chiefly a Jew, who though a believer in Christ, and an embracer of the other truths of the Gospel, yet had but very little knowledge of Gospel liberty; but though that believers were to observe all the rituals of the Mosaic dispensation, not knowing that they were abolished by Christ. The phrase is Jewish; it is (m) said, "what is the meaning of the phrase, in Rephidim, Exo 17:1 it signifies such as are of weak…
Open source ↗We have in this chapter, I. An account of the unhappy contention which had broken out in the Christian church. Our Master had foretold that offences would come; and, it seems, so they did, for want of that wisdom and love which would have prevented discord, and kept up union among them. 1. There was a difference among them about the distinction of meats and days; these are the two things specified. There might be other similar occasions of difference, while these made the most noise, and were most taken notice of. The case was this: The members of the Christian church at Rome were some of them originally Gentiles, and others of them Jews. We find Jews at Rome believing, Act 28:24. Now those that had been Jews were trained up in the observance of the ceremonial appointments touching meats and days. This, which had been bred in the bone with them, could hardly be got out of the flesh, even after they turned Christians; especially with some of them, who were not easily weaned from what they had long been wedded to. They were not well instructed touching the cancelling of the ceremonial law by the death of Christ, and therefore retained the ceremonial institutions, and practised accordingly; while other Christians that understood themselves better, and knew their Christian liberty, made no such difference. (1.) Concerning meats (Rom 14:2): One believeth that he may eat all things - he is well satisfied that the ceremonial distinction of meats into clean and unclean is no longer in force, but that every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused; nothing unclean of itself, Rom 14:14. This he was assured of, not only from the general tenour and scope of the gospel, but particularly from the revelation which Peter, the apostle of the circumcision (and therefore more im…
Open source ↗14:1–15:7 Paul moves to a specific issue that was causing conflict in the church at Rome. The church in Rome was embroiled in a dispute between people who were weak in faith and people who were strong (see 15:1) regarding certain practices. Throughout this section, Paul instructs believers to be tolerant toward others and their practices; he is convinced that people on both sides of the issue are genuine believers, and he does not think the issues they are fighting over are essential to the faith. 14:1 Being weak in faith means having scruples against doing certain things that Christian liberty would allow. In Rome, most of the weak in faith were Jewish Christians whose consciences did not give them liberty from certain requirements of Jewish law.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
ἀσθενέω (asthenéō, G770) — to be feeble (in any sense) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of… προσλαμβάνω (proslambánō, G4355) — to take to oneself, i.e. use (food), lead (aside), admit (to friendship or hospitality) δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. μή (mḗ, G3361) — (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer… εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… διαλογισμός (dialogismós, G1261) — discussion, i.e. (internal) consideration (by implication, purpose), or (external) debate διάκρισις (diákrisis, G1253) — judicial estimation
Open source ↗μέν (mén, G3303) — properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a… ὅς (hós, G3739) — the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that πιστεύω (pisteúō, G4100) — to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by… φάγω (phágō, G5315) — to eat (literally or figuratively) πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. ἀσθενέω (asthenéō, G770) — to be feeble (in any sense) ἐσθίω (esthíō, G2068) — used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by G5315 (φάγω); to eat (usually… λάχανον (láchanon, G3001) — a vegetable
Open source ↗ἐξουθενέω (exouthenéō, G1848) μή (mḗ, G3361) — (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer… ἐσθίω (esthíō, G2068) — used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by G5315 (φάγω); to eat (usually… καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… κρίνω (krínō, G2919) — by implication, to try, condemn, punish γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very προσλαμβάνω (proslambánō, G4355) — to take to oneself, i.e. use (food), lead (aside), admit (to friendship or hospitality) αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the…
Open source ↗τίς (tís, G5101) — an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions) εἶ (eî, G1488) — thou art σύ (sý, G4771) — thou κρίνω (krínō, G2919) — by implication, to try, condemn, punish ἀλλότριος (allótrios, G245) — another's, i.e. not one's own; by extension foreign, not akin, hostile οἰκέτης (oikétēs, G3610) — a fellow resident, i.e. menial domestic ἴδιος (ídios, G2398) — pertaining to self, i.e. one's own; by implication, private or separate κύριος (kýrios, G2962) — supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful… στήκω (stḗkō, G4739) — to be stationary, i.e. (figuratively) to persevere ἤ (ḗ, G2228) — disjunctive, or; comparative, than πίπτω (píptō, G4098) — to fall (literally or figuratively) δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. ἵστημι (hístēmi, G2476) — to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or… γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often…
Open source ↗μέν (mén, G3303) — properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a… ὅς (hós, G3739) — the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that κρίνω (krínō, G2919) — by implication, to try, condemn, punish ἡμέρα (hēméra, G2250) — day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but… παρά (pará, G3844) — properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with… δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole πληροφορέω (plērophoréō, G4135) — to carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. completely assure (or convince), entirely… ἕκαστος (hékastos, G1538) — each or every ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. ἴδιος (ídios, G2398) — pertaining to self, i.e. one's own; by implication, private or separate νοῦς (noûs, G3563) — the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication,…
Open source ↗φρονέω (phronéō, G5426) — to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication, to… ἡμέρα (hēméra, G2250) — day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but… κύριος (kýrios, G2962) — supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful… καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… μή (mḗ, G3361) — (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer… οὐ (ou, G3756) — the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not ἐσθίω (esthíō, G2068) — used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by G5315 (φάγω); to eat (usually… γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very εὐχαριστέω (eucharistéō, G2168) — to be grateful, i.e. (actively) to express gratitude (towards); specially, to say grace…
Open source ↗γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… οὐδείς (oudeís, G3762) — not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing ἡμῶν (hēmōn, G2257) — of (or from) us ζάω (záō, G2198) — to live (literally or figuratively) ἑαυτοῦ (heautoû, G1438) — him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other… καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἀποθνήσκω (apothnḗskō, G599) — to die off (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… ἐάν (eán, G1437) — a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other… τέ (té, G5037) — both or also (properly, as correlation of G2532 (καί)) ζάω (záō, G2198) — to live (literally or figuratively) κύριος (kýrios, G2962) — supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful… ἀποθνήσκω (apothnḗskō, G599) — to die off (literally or figuratively) οὖν (oûn, G3767) — (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly ἐσμέν (esmén, G2070) — we are
Open source ↗γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… τοῦτο (toûto, G5124) — that thing Χριστός (Christós, G5547) — anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἀποθνήσκω (apothnḗskō, G599) — to die off (literally or figuratively) ἀνίστημι (anístēmi, G450) — to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive) ἀναζάω (anazáō, G326) — to recover life (literally or figuratively) ἵνα (hína, G2443) — compare G3588 (ὁ)); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result) κυριεύω (kyrieúō, G2961) — to rule νεκρός (nekrós, G3498) — dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun) ζάω (záō, G2198) — to live (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. τίς (tís, G5101) — an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions) κρίνω (krínō, G2919) — by implication, to try, condemn, punish σύ (sý, G4771) — thou σοῦ (soû, G4675) — of thee, thy ἀδελφός (adelphós, G80) — a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α)) ἤ (ḗ, G2228) — disjunctive, or; comparative, than καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἐξουθενέω (exouthenéō, G1848) γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… παρίστημι (parístēmi, G3936) — to stand beside, i.e. (transitively) to exhibit, proffer, (specially), recommend,… πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole βῆμα (bēma, G968) — a step, i.e. foot-breath; by implication, a rostrum, i.e. a tribunal Χριστός (Christós, G5547) — anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Open source ↗γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… γράφω (gráphō, G1125) — to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe ἐγώ (egṓ, G1473) ζάω (záō, G2198) — to live (literally or figuratively) λέγω (légō, G3004) — properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or… κύριος (kýrios, G2962) — supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful… ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole γόνυ (góny, G1119) — the "knee" κάμπτω (kámptō, G2578) — to bend ἐμοί (emoí, G1698) — to me καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… γλῶσσα (glōssa, G1100) — the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired) ἐξομολογέω (exomologéō, G1843) — to acknowledge or (by implication, of assent) agree fully
Open source ↗οὖν (oûn, G3767) — (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly ἄρα (ára, G686) — a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows) ἕκαστος (hékastos, G1538) — each or every ἡμῶν (hēmōn, G2257) — of (or from) us δίδωμι (dídōmi, G1325) — to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or… λόγος (lógos, G3056) — something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse),… περί (perí, G4012) — properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various… ἑαυτοῦ (heautoû, G1438) — him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other… θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
Open source ↗κρίνω (krínō, G2919) — by implication, to try, condemn, punish οὖν (oûn, G3767) — (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly ἀλλήλων (allḗlōn, G240) — one another μηκέτι (mēkéti, G3371) — no further ἀλλά (allá, G235) — properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) τοῦτο (toûto, G5124) — that thing μᾶλλον (mâllon, G3123) — (adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather μή (mḗ, G3361) — (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer… τίθημι (títhēmi, G5087) — to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive… πρόσκομμα (próskomma, G4348) — a stub, i.e. (figuratively) occasion of apostasy ἤ (ḗ, G2228) — disjunctive, or; comparative, than σκάνδαλον (skándalon, G4625) — a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin) ἀδελφός (adelphós, G80) — a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1 (Α))
Open source ↗εἴδω (eídō, G1492) — used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700… καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… πείθω (peíthō, G3982) — to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other… ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. κύριος (kýrios, G2962) — supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful… Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs, G2424) — Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because οὐδείς (oudeís, G3762) — not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing κοινός (koinós, G2839) — common, i.e. (literally) shared by all or several, or (ceremonially) profane διά (diá, G1223) — through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional) ἑαυτοῦ (heautoû, G1438) — him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other… εἰ μή (ei mḗ, G1508) — if not λογίζομαι (logízomai, G3049) — to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively) τὶς (tìs, G5100) — some or any person or object
Open source ↗Cross-references
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We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory.
Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.