Romans 14:1
New International Version
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

New Living Translation
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

English Standard Version
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Berean Standard Bible
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.

Berean Literal Bible
Now receive the one being weak in the faith, not for passing judgment on reasonings.

King James Bible
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

New King James Version
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

New American Standard Bible
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not to have quarrels over opinions.

NASB 1995
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

NASB 1977
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on opinions.

Amplified Bible
As for the one whose faith is weak, accept him [into your fellowship], but not for [the purpose of] quarreling over his opinions.

Christian Standard Bible
Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about disputed matters.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues.

American Standard Version
But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples.

Contemporary English Version
Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours.

English Revised Version
But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not to doubtful disputations.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don't get into an argument over differences of opinion.

Good News Translation
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions.

International Standard Version
Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over differences of opinion.

Majority Standard Bible
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.

NET Bible
Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions.

New Heart English Bible
Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

Webster's Bible Translation
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Weymouth New Testament
I now pass to another subject. Receive as a friend a man whose faith is weak, but not for the purpose of deciding mere matters of opinion.

World English Bible
Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And receive him who is weak in the faith—not to determinations of reasonings;

Berean Literal Bible
Now receive the one being weak in the faith, not for passing judgment on reasonings.

Young's Literal Translation
And him who is weak in the faith receive ye -- not to determinations of reasonings;

Smith's Literal Translation
Him being weak in faith receive ye, not to judgments of conversations.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
NOW him that is weak in faith, take unto you: not in disputes about thoughts.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But accept those who are weak in faith, without disputing about ideas.

New American Bible
Welcome anyone who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

New Revised Standard Version
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who is weak in the faith, assist him. And be consistent in your reasoning.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But offer a hand to the one who is weak in faith and do not be divided by your disputes.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Him that is weak in the faith, receive kindly, but not to judge his reasonings.

Godbey New Testament
But receive to yourselves him who is weak in faith, not into disputations of doubtful matters.

Haweis New Testament
HIM that is weak in faith take by the hand, and enter not into niceties of disputes.

Mace New Testament
A weak convert receive as a friend without regard to any difference of opinion.

Weymouth New Testament
I now pass to another subject. Receive as a friend a man whose faith is weak, but not for the purpose of deciding mere matters of opinion.

Worrell New Testament
But him that is weak in the faith receive ye, yet not for decisions of scruples.

Worsley New Testament
Receive him that is weak in the faith, but not to disputes about doubtful matters:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Law of Liberty
1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. 2For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 8:9-13
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. / For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? / So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. ...

1 Corinthians 10:23-33
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. / No one should seek his own good, but the good of others. / Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, ...

Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

1 Corinthians 9:22
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.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

2 Timothy 2:23-25
But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. / And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. / He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. / Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? ...

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

Ephesians 4:2
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.


Treasury of Scripture

Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.

weak.

Romans 14:21
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Romans 4:19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

Romans 15:1,7
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves…

receive.

Romans 15:7
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Matthew 10:40-42
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me…

Matthew 18:5
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

doubtful disputations.

Romans 14:2-5
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs…

Jump to Previous
Accept Decision Disputes Doubt Doubtful Faith Feeble Friend Judgment Matters Mere Opinion Opinions Passing Purpose Questions Reasoning Reasonings Receive Scruples Side Subject Weak Welcome
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Accept Decision Disputes Doubt Doubtful Faith Feeble Friend Judgment Matters Mere Opinion Opinions Passing Purpose Questions Reasoning Reasonings Receive Scruples Side Subject Weak Welcome
Romans 14
1. Men may not condemn one another for disputable matters;
13. but must take heed that they give no offense in them;
15. which the apostle proves unlawful by many reasons.














Accept him
The Greek word for "accept" is "προσλαμβάνεσθε" (proslambanesthe), which means to receive or welcome. In the context of the early church, this was a call to embrace fellow believers, regardless of their spiritual maturity or understanding. The early Christian communities were diverse, comprising Jews and Gentiles, each with different backgrounds and practices. This exhortation emphasizes the importance of unity and love within the body of Christ, reflecting the heart of Jesus, who welcomed all who came to Him.

whose faith is weak
The phrase "whose faith is weak" refers to believers who may not fully grasp the freedom they have in Christ or who may still be bound by certain legalistic practices. The Greek word for "weak" is "ἀσθενοῦντα" (asthenounta), which implies a lack of strength or firmness. Historically, this could relate to Jewish Christians who struggled with the transition from the Law of Moses to the grace found in Christ. It serves as a reminder that spiritual growth is a journey, and those who are stronger in faith are called to support and nurture those who are still growing.

without passing judgment
The Greek term "διακρίσεις" (diakriseis) is used here, meaning to make a distinction or to judge. In the early church, there were often disputes over dietary laws and holy days, remnants of Jewish customs that some believers still observed. Paul urges the Roman Christians to refrain from judging one another over these disputable matters. This call to avoid judgment is rooted in the understanding that God alone is the ultimate judge, and believers are to focus on building each other up in love.

on his opinions
The word "opinions" is translated from the Greek "διαλογισμῶν" (dialogismon), which can mean thoughts or reasonings. This highlights the non-essential nature of the issues being discussed. In the historical context, these opinions might include debates over food sacrificed to idols or the observance of certain days. Paul is teaching that while believers may hold different views on such matters, these should not become a source of division. Instead, the focus should be on the core tenets of the faith and the unity that comes from being in Christ.

(1) Weak in the faith . . .--The presence of a single strong master-motive is apt to silence petty scruples. Where the "eye is single"--where all the powers and faculties of the man are concentrated upon one object, and that object the highest that can engage human thought or affection--there will naturally be a certain largeness of view. The opposite of this is to be "weak in the faith." There may be a sincere desire to lead a religious life, and yet the mind is taken up with petty details, each of which is painfully judged by itself, and not by reference to a central principle.

Receive ye.--Take to yourselves, stretch out the hand of friendship to him.

Doubtful disputations.--The marginal rendering is more exact, "to judge his doubtful thoughts," or "to criticise his scruples." The strong are to deal tenderly with the weak, and not engage them in casuistical discussions.

Verses 1-23. - F. The duty of enlightened Christians towards weak brethren. From moral duties in general of Christians towards each other and towards all the apostle now passes to such as they owe peculiarly to each other as members of a religious community, united by a common faith. He has already (Romans 12:16) admonished his readers to be "of the same mind one toward another;" but, as was remarked under that verse, this did not imply agreement of view on all subjects, such as is impossible where there are many minds. In this chapter he recognizes the impossibility, having immediately before him what was then patent, the inability of some, through prejudice or slowness of conception, to enter into views of the meaning of the gospel which to himself and the more enlightened were apparent. He by no means departs from what he says elsewhere (cf. Galatians 1:6-10) about no denial of fundamental doctrine being allowable in the communion of the Church; but in matters not touching the foundation he does here inculcate a large and generous tolerance. In these, as in all other relations between men on the earth together, the all-inspiring principle of charity is to rule. Who the "weak brethren" were whose scruples he especially inculcates tolerance of in this chapter cannot be decided positively. It will he seen that they were persons who thought it their duty to abstain from animal food, and perhaps also from wine (vers. 2, 21); and there is allusion also to observance of certain days (ver. 5). The views that have been taken are as follows: -

(1) That they were the same class of Jewish Christians as are spoken of in 1 Corinthians 8. as over-scrupulous about eating of things that had been offered in sacrifice to idols.

(2) That they were such as were scrupulous in avoiding unclean meats, forbidden in the Mosaic Law. (Or, as Erasmus and others suggest, views (1) and (2) may be combined.)

(3) That they were ascetics. In favour of view . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Accept
προσλαμβάνεσθε (proslambanesthe)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4355: (a) I take to myself, (b) I take aside, (c) I welcome. From pros and lambano; to take to oneself, i.e. Use, lead, admit.

him whose
Τὸν (Ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

faith
πίστει (pistei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

is weak,
ἀσθενοῦντα (asthenounta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 770: To be weak (physically: then morally), To be sick. From asthenes; to be feeble.

without
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

passing judgment
διακρίσεις (diakriseis)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1253: Distinguishing; hence: deciding, passing sentence on; the act of judgment, discernment. From diakrino; judicial estimation.

on [his] opinions.
διαλογισμῶν (dialogismōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1261: From dialogizomai; discussion, i.e. consideration, or debate.


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