Section 14:1–12

Do not judge/criticize fellow believers and do not despise them

In this section, Paul told his readers that they must accept other believers who are not strong in their faith. These other believers do things that are not based in their faith, hence they are “weak” in their faith. One example that Paul gave of this “weak” faith is someone who avoids meat because it has been devoted to the Roman gods.

Paul also told his readers to not argue over differences of opinion (14:1). In 14:5, he gave an example of this: some believers hold the holy days as something special but other believers do not. Paul reminded his readers that they all belong to the Lord Jesus.

Paul told his readers that they must not judge other believers to be bad people or despise them. He reminded them that they all will stand before God as their judge, and give an account of their deeds.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Do not consider other believers to be bad people
-or-
Do not look down on other believers

Paragraph 14:1–4

14:1a

This verse begins with the Greek conjunction that introduces a new topic that is related to the previous one. In many languages, no conjunction would imply that.

Some scholars see contrast here to 13:14. For example, Dunn translates the Greek word as:

But

Accept him whose faith is weak: In the Greek, the phrase translated him whose faith is weak occurs before the verb Accept to emphasize it. Some languages can put this phrase in front without those added words. For example:

the one who is weak in faith, welcome him

Some English versions add words to introduce this phrase. Some languages can follow these versions or use other words to introduce this phrase. For example:

Concerning the believer who does not yet understand well about the word he believes, there where you meet together give him a welcome.
-or-

If there is a person whose faith is not yet mature or is weak, accept him

Other languages must put this phrase in its normal place for a natural translation. For example:

welcome the one whose faith is weak

Accept: The Greek word refers to bringing in someone into your group of friends and accepting him or her. Here are other ways to translate this word:

welcome (English Standard Version)
-or-
receive well

him whose faith is weak: This phrase refers to someone who has faith but believes that his faith limits what he can do. Paul called it weak because this person limits what he can do more than someone whose faith is not weak. Paul gave an example of this difference in faith in 14:2. Here is another way to translate this:

the one who is not strong in faith

14:1b

without passing judgment on his opinions: This is a purpose clause. Believers should not accept others into their group for the purpose of passing judgment on them.

There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as passing judgment :

(1) It means argue here. For example:

do not argue with them about their personal opinions (Good News Translation)

(Revised Standard Version, New International Version (2011), Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It means judge (as bad) here. For example:

criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (1984), New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG and L&N support it.

opinions: This word refers to an idea or belief about something based on personal preference or an interpretation of something true. For example, there may be many opinions about who should be Prime Minister or about why a car crashed. Here are other ways to translate this word:

thoughts/opinions
-or-
their different thinkings

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