Romans 14:1-4 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:4

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? - Who has ever given thee the right to condemn the servant of another man, in things pertaining to his own master? To his own master he standeth or falleth. He is to judge him, not thou; thy intermeddling in this business is both rash and uncharitable. Yea, he shall be holden up - He is sincere and upright, and God, who is able to make him stand, will uphold him; and so teach him that he shall not essentially err. And it is the will of God... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:1

Verse 1 1.Him indeed, etc. He passes on now to lay down a precept especially necessary for the instruction of the Church, — that they who have made the most progress in Christian doctrine should accommodate themselves to the more ignorant, and employ their own strength to sustain their weakness; for among the people of God there are some weaker than others, and who, except they are treated with great tenderness and kindness, will be discouraged, and become at length alienated from religion. And... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:2

Verse 2 2.Let him who believes, etc. What [Erasmus ] has followed among the various readings I know not; but he has mutilated this sentence, which, in Paul’s words, is complete; and instead of the relative article he has improperly introduced alius — one, “One indeed believes,” etc. That I take the infinitive for an imperative, ought not to appear unnatural nor strained, for it is a mode of speaking very usual with Paul. (416) He then calls those believers who were endued with a conscience... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:3

Verse 3 3.Let not him who eats, etc. He wisely and suitably meets the faults of both parties. They who were strong had this fault, — that they despised those as superstitious who were scrupulous about insignificant things, and also derided them: these, on the other hand, were hardly able to refrain from rash judgments, so as not to condemn what they did not follow; for whatever they perceived to be contrary to their own sentiments, they thought was evil. Hence he exhorts the former to refrain... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:4

Verse 4 4.Who art thou who judgest, etc. “As you would act uncourteously, yea, and presumptuously among men, were you to bring another man’s servant, under your own rules, and try all his acts by the rule of your own will; so you assume too much, if you condemn anything in God’s servant, because it does not please you; for it belongs not to you to prescribe to him what to do and what not to do, nor is it necessary for him to live according to your law.” Now, though the power of judging as to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1

Him that is weak in the faith (rather, in faith, or in his faith ) . The article before πίστει does not denote the faith objectively. Cf. Romans 4:19 , μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῆ πίστει . In 1 Corinthians 8:12 it is the conscience that is spoken of as weak, τὴν συνείδησιν ἀσθενοῦσαν . Persons are meant whose faith is not sufficiently strong and enlightened for entering fully into the true spirit of the gospel so as to distinguish between essentials and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-6

Ceremonial and spiritual religion. This passage is one of many instances occurring in St. Paul's writings in which circumstances of local and temporary interest suggest the statement of great moral truths and principles, applicable over a far wider area. To us these questions—as to whether certain food should be eaten, and certain days should be observed—seem trifling enough; yet to how grand and comprehensive a law of Christian action do these considerations lead the mind of the deep... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-9

The Christian's dependence and the Christian's independence. The composite character of the Christian community at Rome—the Jewish origin of many of its members on the one hand, and contact with heathenism on the other—had doubtless given rise to differences of opinion. Some there were who still retained their Jewish prejudices and ideas. They abstained from meats. They observed special days. They were inclined to judge harshly and even to look down upon those who did not think and act as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-12

The risen Saviour as Lord of the conscience. The apostle, as we have just seen, has been discussing the neighbourly character of Christian living, and showing that the Christ-like soul will love his neighbour as himself, and do no ill to him. And this leads by an easy transition to the whole class of weak consciences, and how they are to be dealt with. For there are people painfully scrupulous, who have come, for example, to fancy that vegetarianism is the only lawful system of diet; or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

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... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

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