One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Parallel translations
- WEB One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.
- KJV One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
- NKJV One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
- NASB One person values one day over another, another values every day the same. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
- NLT In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable.
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
On observing special days, believers held differing convictions, and Paul says each should be fully persuaded in his own mind. Conscience on disputable matters should be settled before God, not coerced.
Overview
Some, likely with Jewish background, esteemed certain days as sacred; others regarded all days alike. Rather than legislate, Paul calls each believer to act from settled conviction. This is not indifference to truth but recognition that these are matters of Christian liberty. Genuine obedience flows from conscience persuaded before God, not from mere outward conformity.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Col 2:16–17Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
- Gal 4:9–10But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
- Rom 14:23But the one who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that is not from faith is sin.
- 1 Cor 8:7But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
- 1 Jn 3:19–21And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
- Rom 14:14I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
- 1 Cor 8:11So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 14:5 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.