Romans 14:5
in Romans 14One 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth 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.
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This verse in Romans 14
Commentary
13 notes on this verseOne judges between one day and another; another judges every day. Let each one abound in his own sense. We said above, following the sequence of the apostolic letter, that these matters seem to be treated concerning abstinence from foods, or liberty in them: since indeed the calling which is in Christ places nothing common or unclean in foods, but the principle of continence persuades us to abstain even from things permitted. For, as he himself says elsewhere, because all things are lawful, it does not therefore follow that all things are expedient, or that all things edify.
This site's exposition
To his own master he stands or falls
on Romans 14:4-6
Each believer answers to his own master, and the Lord Himself is able to make him stand. The second dispute is the calendar, and each is to be fully convinced in his own mind. Whichever way a man regards the day or eats, he does so to the Lord.
This site's exposition
One person regards a certain day above the others
Clarke takes the day one person regards above the others as a Jewish festival such as Passover or Pentecost. Such a day still bound the mind of the Jewish believer. Barnes notes that the Greek verb for regards is krinei, the verb the chapter uses for judging a brother.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
This is not to be made an article of faith, as Paul himself says.
At the moment, and without any deeper consideration, it seems to me that this is said about God and man, not about two men. He who judges on alternate days is man, who can judge one way today and another way tomorrow.… But the One whose judgment is the same every day is the Lord.… But let everyone dare to judge only insofar as is granted to human intelligence or at least to his own.
"One man esteemeth one day above another, another esteemeth every day alike." Here he seems to me to be giving a gentle hint about fasting. For it is not unlikely that some who fasted were always judging those who did not, or among the observances it is likely that there were some that on fixed days abstained, and on fixed days did not. Whence also he says, "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." And in this way he released those who kept the observances from fear, by saying that the thing was indifferent, and he removed also the quarrelsomeness of those who attacked them, by showing that it was no very desirable task to be always making a trouble about these things. Yet it was not a very desirable task, not in its own nature, but on account of the time chosen, and because they were novices in the faith. For when he is writing to the Colossians, it is with great earnestness that he forbids it, saying, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ." (Col. ii. 8.) And again, "Let no man judge you in meat or in drink" (Col. ii. 16), and, "let no man beguile you of your reward." (Col. ii. 18.) And when writing to the Galatians with great precision, he exacts of them Christian spirit and perfectness in this matter. But here he does not use this vehemency, because the faith was lately planted in them. Let us therefore not apply the phrase, "Let every man be persuaded in his own mind," to all subjects. For when he is speaking of doctrines, hear what he says, "If any one preacheth unto you any gospel other than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Gal. i. 9), "even" if it be "an angel." And again, "I fear lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted." (2 Cor. xi. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
Some exhausted themselves by not eating or abstained from pork on certain days, while others always ate food and condemned those who fasted. About these he says that one judges one way and another differently, whereas the matter here is indifferent. Therefore one must not …
Then when he says, for one judges, he exemplifies what he had said. First, he proposes that human opinions vary, saying: I say that to his own lord he stands or falls . . . for one judges between day and day, i.e., he judges …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Take heed of acting contrary to the dictates of a doubting conscience. First be persuaded that what you do is lawful, before you venture to do it." In doubtful things, it is good keeping on the sure side of the hedge. If a weak Christian doubts whether it be lawful to eat flesh, while he remains under that doubt he had best forbear, till he be fully persuaded in his own mind.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
One man esteemeth one day above another,....
If the contending parties will but submit to this fair arbitration, each abate of his rigour, and sacrifice their differences to their graces, all will be well quickly. Let us observe the rules he gives, some to the strong and some to the weak, and some to both, for they are interwoven; and reduce the reasons to their proper rules.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
One man esteemeth - Greek “judgeth” κρίνει krinei. The word is here properly translated “esteemeth;” compare Act 13:46; Act 16:15. The word originally has the idea of “separating,” and then “discerning,” in the act of judging. The expression means that one would set a higher value on one day than on another, or would regard it as more sacred than others.
One man esteemeth one day above another - Perhaps the word ἡμεραν, day, is here taken for time, festival, and such like, in which sense it is frequently used. Reference is made here to the Jewish institutions, and especially their festivals; such as the passover, pentecost, feast of tabernacles, new moons, jubilee, etc. The converted Jew still thought these of moral obligation; the Gentile Christian not having been bred up in this way had no such prejudices. And as those who were the instruments of bringing him to the knowledge of God gave him no such injunctions, consequently he paid to these no religious regard. Another - The converted Gentile esteemeth every day - considers that all time is the Lord’s, and that each day should be devoted to the glory of God; and that those festivals are not binding on him. We add here alike, and make the text say what I am sure was never intended, viz. that there is no distinction of days, not even of the Sabbath: and that every Christian is at liberty to consider even this day to be holy or not holy, as he happens to be persuaded in his own mind. That the Sabbath is of lasting obligation may be reasonably concluded from its institution (see the note on Gen 2:3) and from its typical reference. All allow that the Sabbath is a type of that rest in glory which remains for the people of God. Now, all types are intended to continue in full force till the antitype, or thing signified, take place; consequently, the Sabbath will continue in force till the consummation of all things. The word alike should not be added; nor is it acknowledged by any MS. or ancient version. Let every man be fully persuaded - With respect to the propriety or non-propriety of keeping the above festivals, let every man act from the plenary conviction of his own mind; there is a sufficient latitude allowed: all may be fully satisfied.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὃς | hos | One | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| κρίνει | krinei | judges | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ἡμέραν | hemeran | a day | G2250 → | 389 times |
| παρ᾽ | par᾽ | [to be] above | G3844 → | 192 times |
| ἡμέραν, | hemeran | [another] day, | G2250 → | 389 times |
| ὃς | hos | one [other] | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| κρίνει | krinei | judges | G2919 → | 114 times |
| πᾶσαν | pasan | every | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἡμέραν· | hemeran | day [alike]; | G2250 → | 389 times |
| ἕκαστος | hekastos | Each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἰδίῳ | idio | own | G2398 → | 114 times |
| νοῒ | noi | mind | G3563 → | 24 times |
| πληροφορείσθω. | plerophoreistho | should be fully assured. | G4135 → |
ὃςOne
hosG3739 →1405 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
κρίνειjudges
krineiG2919 →114 times
ἡμέρανa day
hemeranG2250 →389 times
παρ᾽[to be] above
par᾽G3844 →192 times
ἡμέραν,[another] day,
hemeranG2250 →389 times
ὃςone [other]
hosG3739 →1405 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
κρίνειjudges
krineiG2919 →114 times
πᾶσανevery
pasanG3956 →1235 times
ἡμέραν·day [alike];
hemeranG2250 →389 times
ἕκαστοςEach
hekastosG1538 →81 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἰδίῳown
idioG2398 →114 times
νοῒmind
noiG3563 →24 times
πληροφορείσθω.should be fully assured.
plerophoreisthoG4135 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 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.
it leads to
- Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
- Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
- 1 Corinthians 8:7
But 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…
- 1 Corinthians 11:29–31
For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
- Hebrews 11:6
Through
1 Corinthians 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…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 10:28–29
But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—
- Romans 14:14
I 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.
- Romans 14:22–23
Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9–10
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- 1 Corinthians 10:28–29
Where this verse is studied
About Romans
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 80; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 25; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.