One person has faith that he may eat all things, but the one who is weak eats only vegetables.
Parallel translations
- WEB One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
- KJV For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
- BSB For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
- NKJV For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
- NLT For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Some believers feel free to eat anything, while the weaker believer eats only vegetables out of conscience. Paul describes the difference without scorning either side.
Overview
The disagreement likely involved meat possibly tied to idols or to Jewish dietary scruples, leading some to abstain entirely. The 'strong' rightly understand their liberty in Christ; the 'weak' restrict themselves out of an uninstructed but sincere conscience. Paul frames this as a difference in maturity of conviction, not in standing before God. Both belong to the Lord who has received them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Tim 4:4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with thanksgiving.
- Prov 15:17Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.
- Rom 14:14I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
- Gal 2:12For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
- Rom 14:22–23Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves.
- Gen 9:3Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you.
- Titus 1:15To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
- 1 Cor 10:25Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience,
- Heb 13:9Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by food, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.
- Heb 9:10being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
- Dan 1:12Test your servants, I beg you, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.
- Gen 1:29God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.
- Dan 1:16So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 14:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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