Romans 14:3-4
Context14:3 The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him. 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord 1 is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:10-16
Context14:10 But you who eat vegetables only – why do you judge your brother or sister? 2 And you who eat everything – why do you despise your brother or sister? 3 For we will all stand before the judgment seat 4 of God. 14:11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.” 5 14:12 Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 6
14:13 Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister. 7 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean. 14:15 For if your brother or sister 8 is distressed because of what you eat, 9 you are no longer walking in love. 10 Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. 14:16 Therefore do not let what you consider good 11 be spoken of as evil.
1 tc Most
2 tn Grk “But why do you judge your brother?” The introductory phrase has been supplied in the translation to clarify whom Paul is addressing, i.e., the “weak” Christian who eats only vegetables (see vv. 2-3). The author uses the singular pronoun here to rhetorically address one person, but the plural has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons.
3 tn Grk “Or again, why do you despise your brother?” The introductory phrase has been supplied in the translation to clarify whom Paul is addressing, i.e., the “strong” Christian who eats everything (see vv. 2-3). The author uses the singular pronoun here to rhetorically address one person, but the plural has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons.
4 sn The judgment seat (βῆμα, bhma) was a raised platform mounted by steps and sometimes furnished with a seat, used by officials in addressing an assembly or making pronouncements, often on judicial matters. The judgment seat was a familiar item in Greco-Roman culture, often located in the agora, the public square or marketplace in the center of a city.
5 sn A quotation from Isa 45:23.
6 tc ‡ The words “to God” are absent from some
tn Or “each of us is accountable to God.”
7 tn Grk “brother.”
8 tn Grk “brother.”
9 tn Grk “on account of food.”
10 tn Grk “according to love.”
11 tn Grk “do not let your good.”