---
title: Romans 14:1
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-14-1/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/romans-14-1.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Romans 14:1
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Romans 14:1

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "Welcome the man having weaknesses in his faith, but do not pass judgment on differing opinions"

## JW Usage

Watchtower commentary takes Romans 14:1 as Paul's instruction not to judge fellow believers on disputable matters. The verse is read as endorsing a category of conscience-issues where Christians may legitimately differ — though in practice the Watchtower's elder body decides which matters fall in the conscience category and which are mandatory organisational positions.

## Protestant Usage

Romans 14:1 opens the chapter that decisively settles the conscience-and-festivals dispute the Watchtower has reopened. Paul commands: "Welcome the man having weaknesses in his faith, but do not pass judgment on differing opinions." The wider chapter (especially v5-6) rules that one Christian may observe a day to the Lord and another treat all days alike — both are acceptable. Then v10-12 prepares the judgment-seat warning: every believer will give an account "for himself," not for fellow believers' conscience choices. The Watchtower's disfellowshipping practice for celebrating Christmas, voting, birthday parties — all conscience matters that Paul explicitly leaves to the individual's conviction — inverts the verse's command. Paul says do not judge; the Watchtower judges.

## NWT Issue

The NWT renders ton asthenounta tē pistei (singular participle, "the one weak in faith") as "the man having weaknesses in his faith" — pluralising "weaknesses." Greek has the singular. Consensus reads "weak in faith" (ESV/ NASB/NIV/KJV). The pluralised "weaknesses" subtly shifts focus from a person's whole spiritual state to multiple opinion-points, supporting the JW conscience-on-disputable- things framing where elders identify discrete "weak" positions to address.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Judgment According to Works](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/judgment-according-to-works.md) — Matthew 25, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20 — evidence or basis? [Salvation]
- [What Is Still Forbidden?](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/blood-still-forbidden.md) — Four components, whole blood, and the line no verse draws [Authority]