Romans 14: Its Meaning and Application

[David Koot]

Romans 14 was referred to on another thread. The question arose as to what it means, and how it should be applied. This thread will explore the meaning of the passage. For starters, note v. 1:

"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things."

What does the word 'doubtful' mean? Here is the Greek for the phrase: diakriseis dialogismwn Diakriseis is a feminine plural accusative noun. Dialogismwn is a masculine plural genitive noun. Louw-Nida, which is a lexicon intended for use by the Wycliffe Bible translation project, words it this way:

'Do not argue about his personal opinions.'

That seems consistent with what follows in the passage. Before going any further, I would be interested in any feedback about the foregoing.

Dave

[Bravus]

Makes sense: and avoids a kind of false dichotomy that we often project out of the English words between things which are and are not 'debatable' or 'doubtful'. In other words, it's 'don't argue', not 'you can argue all you like about that stuff but don't argue about this stuff'. Is that a fair summation/expansion?

Or is there a distinction between things that are personal opinions and things that are objective truth? (Ooops, we seem to be looping...!)

[D. Allan]

What Bravus said is to me a reasonable understanding of the phrase. So proslambanesthe recieve into your fellowship/companionship but (not eis into) (without) diakriseis making distinctions or discriminations of dialogismon thoughts/opinions/reasonings.

I would consider translating it like this: "Welcome those without strong faith into your friendship not into debates." Its an interesting chapter.

note that a-sthenes means 'without strength.'

[D. Allan]

I just looked into Peterson's Message; he translates it nicely, I think:

"Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with - ....."

Phillips: "Welcome a man whose faith is weak, but not with the idea of arguing over his scruples."

Good News Bible: "Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions."

NIV: "Accept him whose faith is weak without passing judgement on disputable matters." (very imprecise, ambiguous translation, I agree, Dave.)

KJV: "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." (better than the NIV, but "doubtful" is not, I think, used anymore in that way; we'd have to do some studies into Elizibethan English - or Jamesian?.)

D.Allan's is the best I think : "Welcome those without strong faith into your friendship, not into debates." Pithy and Pauline! and even more literal than most.