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The Danger of Criticism

14 Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.

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How to Treat Weak Believers

14 Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of arguing over differences of opinion. One person believes that he may eat anything, while the weak[a] person eats only[b] vegetables. The person who eats any kind of food[c] must not ridicule the person who does not eat them,[d] and the person who does not eat certain foods[e] must not criticize the person who eats them,[f] for God has accepted him. Who are you to criticize someone else’s servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord—and stand he will, because the Lord[g] makes him stand.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:2 Or ill
  2. Romans 14:2 The Gk. lacks only
  3. Romans 14:3 The Gk. lacks any kind of food
  4. Romans 14:3 The Gk. lacks them
  5. Romans 14:3 The Gk. lacks certain foods
  6. Romans 14:3 The Gk. lacks them
  7. Romans 14:4 Other mss. read because God