14. (1) Scruples must not be allowed to separate brethren: (3) they do not separate from GOD: (4) we have no right to judge those who, in their particular choices of action, all own allegiance to the one Lord: (10) judgment is reserved for GOD. (13) The true Christian way is to avoid all offence to... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸΝ ΔῈ�.Τ.Λ. S. Paul passes to a special case (δὲ) of the duty of love and the consequence of the corporate character of the Christian life: we may perhaps regard it as a special case of the injunction, Romans 12:16. ἈΣΘ. ΤΗ͂Ι ΠΊΣΤΕΙ, Romans 4:19; cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Co... [ Continue Reading ]
F. 12–15:13. THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL SEEN IN ITS EFFECT UPON BOTH THE COMMON AND THE INDIVIDUAL LIFE OF CHRISTIANS. In this section S. Paul deals with the consequences of the principles he has worked out as they affect the character and the conduct of the Christian life. The main principles are two:... [ Continue Reading ]
ὋΣ ΜῈΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. The absence of connecting particle shows that this is an illustration of the principle. ὋΣ ΜῈΝ—Ὁ ΔῈ�. Cf. Blass, p. 145. ΠΙΣΤΕΎΕΙ, has faith to, so far as to—no |[270] to this use; Acts 15:11 the only other case of inf. after π. is different. Giff. qu. Dem. _Onet._, p. 866, προέσθαι δ... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ἘΣΘΊΩΝ, sc. κρέα. The injunction is put in form as if the preceding statement had been negative, κρέα οὐκ ἐ. ΜῊ ἘΞ.—ΚΡ. The idiomatic use = give up despising—judging; cf. Romans 14:13. ἘΞΟΥΘΕΝΕΊΤΩ. The contempt which ignores:)[272] προσλαμβάνεσθαι; cf. Luke 18:9; Acts 4:11; 1 Corinthians 1:28; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪ ΤΊΣ ΕἾ Κ.Τ.Λ.: the tables are turned: in judging him as a sinner thou art committing a sin of presumption, in judging one who is not accountable to thee. For the dramatic form, cf. 1 Corinthians 4:7 f. ἈΛΛΌΤΡΙΟΝ ΟἸΚ. Cf. Luke 16:13. ΟἸΚ. only here used of the relation of the Christian to the Lor... [ Continue Reading ]
ὋΣ ΜῈΝ ΓᾺΡ Κ.Τ.Λ. A second instance is given—scruples as to the observance of days. Here it is almost inevitable to think of Jewish influence (cf. Colossians 2:16): and all the more remarkable is the detached way in which the case is treated: as long as such observance is not made occasion for judgi... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΦΡΟΝΩ͂Ν ΤῊΝ ἩΜ. Cf. Romans 8:5; Philippians 3:19; Colossians 3:2; Mark 8:33 (|[275] Mt.). [275] | parallel to ΚΥΡΊΩΙ ΦΡΟΝΕΙ͂. Dat. to denote the person whose interest is affected, Blass p. 111. _Anarthrous_ κύριος is used (1) after O.T. as a name for GOD, _passim_. (2) of Christ, very rarely with... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΔΕῚΣ ΓᾺΡ ἩΜΩ͂Ν Κ.Τ.Λ. None of us Christians. As Christians we all recognise our subordination, in living and in dying, to the one Lord. It must be assumed then that the particular rules a man makes for himself are made with that reference, and must be treated with respect by others accordingly.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΩ͂Ι ΚΥΡΊΩΙ, for the Lord; dat. as above, 6. ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΥΡΊΟΥ ἘΣΜΈΝ. The whole argument rests on the position of Christians as δοῦλοι τοῦ κυρίου.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΓᾺΡ Κ.Τ.Λ. To establish this relationship was the object of Christ’s death and resurrection. Note that in dealing with these secondary matters S. Paul bases his argument on this external relation, not on the deeper vital relation ἐν Χριστῷ; cf. S. H.; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:20. ἜΖΗΣΕΝ. Came... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪ ΔῈ ΤΊ Κ.Τ.Λ. The dramatic emphasis is again applied as in Romans 14:4; but here the appeal is based on the equality of brethren. ΠΆΝΤΕΣ ΓᾺΡ Κ.Τ.Λ. The common responsibility to one Lord is now put in its most forcible form, of ultimate responsibility to GOD as judge; cf. 1 Peter 4:5. ΤΩ͂Ι ΒΉΜΑΤΙ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΈΓΡΑΠΤΑΙ ΓᾺΡ. Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 49:18 (conflat.). ἘΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΉΣΕΤΑΙ. Cf. Romans 15:9; Matthew 11:25; cf. Philippians 2:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΡΑ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. The final conclusion on this line of argument: each man will account to GOD, and to Him alone. ΛΌΓΟΝ ΔΏΣΕΙ. Elsewhere ἀποδίδοναι Matthew 12:36 _alibi _... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΗΚΈΤΙ ΟΥ̓͂Ν Κ.Τ.Λ. concludes the preceding argument. ΚΡΊΝΑΤΕ = make it your judgment—different from κρίνωμεν; cf. Acts 15:19. ΤΙΘΈΝΑΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. To _lay_ a stumblingblock or trap for your brother; cf. Matthew 18:6-7; 1 Corinthians 8:9 = προσκοπή 2 Corinthians 6:3; _supra_ Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8. ΣΚ... [ Continue Reading ]
While Christian freedom is to be maintained, it must not be so maintained as to violate charity. S. Paul has developed in the strongest terms the Christian right, and consequently the wrong of judging. Now he develops the higher considerations, which should influence the strong, in suspending their... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἾΔΑ ΚΑῚ ΠΈΠΕΙΣΜΑΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. A very strong assertion of the complete abolition of legal definitions of clean and unclean, not however by way of controversy, but as fully admitting the principle maintained by the ‘strong.’ ἘΝ ΚΥΡΊΩΙ Ἰ. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 where διὰ τοῦ κ. Ἰ. repeats ἐν κ. Ἰ. of Ro... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓᾺΡ. Romans 14:14 is a parenthetic admission and qualification, γὰρ refers back to Romans 14:13. The whole passage is curiously elliptic and interjectional. ΔΙᾺ ΒΡΩ͂ΜΑ. Owing to meat—that meat which you in your strength and freedom take, but he regards with scruples. ΚΑΤᾺ�. Cf. Romans 8:4; 1 Corin... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. As this ruin is the result of such action, do not give occasion for such a charge being brought against what is for you and in itself good. ΒΛΑΣΦΗΜΕΊΣΘΩ. The result of such an action would be that an evil character could be imputed to what is in itself good; cf. Romans 2:24; Romans 3:8; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ ΓΆΡ Κ.Τ.Λ. No question of fundamental principle is raised; you may suspend your freedom in such matters: for the fundamental matters are etc. ΟΥ̓ ΓΆΡ ἘΣΤΙΝ Ἡ. Β. Τ. Θ. Cf. Matthew 6:31-33, _ib_[285] Romans 5:3 f. This is one of the clearest particular cases of the influence of the teaching reco... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΓᾺΡ ἘΝ ΤΟΎΤΩΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. Romans 15:3, the service of the Christ involves the adoption of His principle of ‘not pleasing Himself.’ ἘΝ ΤΟΎΤΩΙ = in this matter, of conduct as regards things in themselves indifferent. ΔΟΥΛΕΎΩΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΧΡ. This is the true service of the Christ (the Messiah) in contrast... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΡΑ ΟΥ̓͂Ν, ‘so then after all’: brings to the front some of the implications of the preceding verses, for further enforcement of the appeal. ΤᾺ ΤΗ͂Σ ΕἸΡΉΝΗΣ. The aims which the peace established by Christ dictates. ΤΗ͂Σ ΟἸΚΟΔΟΜΗ͂Σ ΤΗ͂Σ ΕἸΣ�. ΟἸΚ. = the building up of the individual character so th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΆΛΥΕ ΤῸ ἜΡΓΟΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂. The οἰκ., the duty of Christian to Christian, is GOD’s own work; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9; Acts 20:32. ΚΑΤΑΛ. is suggested by the metaphor of building; cf. Mark 15:29; Galatians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:10. ΠΆΝΤΑ ΜῈΝ ΚΑΘΑΡΆ. The admission of Romans 14:14 is repeated, to bring... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΛῸΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. 1 Corinthians 8:13. ΜΗΔῈ ἘΝ ὯΙ, sc. πράττειν τι.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣῪΠ. Κ.Τ.Λ. π. ἔχεις = πιστεύει Romans 14:2. It is not necessary to exhibit your faith in this matter to men: to be taken with the preceding. ΜΑΚΆΡΙΟΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. gives the final contrast between the really strong and the weak: the one with a clear conscience is to be envied (cf. James 1:25): the doubte... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΔῈ ΔΙΑΚΡΙΝΌΜΕΝΟΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. Cf. James 1:6, ‘he that hesitates or doubts,’ who wavers in his judgment; cf. Romans 4:20; Acts 10:20. ΚΑΤΑΚΈΡΙΤΑΙ is at once condemned by the act, not by the doubt. ΟΥ̓Κ ἘΚ ΠΊΣΤΕΩΣ, ‘because the action does not spring from faith.’ It is not the result in him, as it is in... [ Continue Reading ]