Romans 14:1-9. Christian practice: mutual toleration: each individual directly responsible to the Redeemer 1. _Him that is weak_, &c. Lit. BUT HIM THAT IS WEAK, &c. The "_but_" marks a slight contrast with the previous passage. Probably this is q. d., "I have just spoken of vigour and thoroughness... [ Continue Reading ]
This difference may be explained by the different quality and aspect of the controversies. In Galatia the question was of primary principle; at Rome and Corinth it was, on the whole, of secondary practice. _How to be justified before God_was the Galatian problem. _How the justified should live_was,... [ Continue Reading ]
It is unmistakable, from all the passages in question, on which side apostolic truth lay. St Paul clearly decides against the _principle_of the "weak brethren;" though he treats it as an error which might lawfully and usefully be met by toleration and the quiet influence of tolerant example. _God h... [ Continue Reading ]
The question has been much debated whether the observance of the Sabbath was one of the tenets of the "weak brethren," and so whether it is here ruled by St Paul to be not of permanent moral obligation. (Cp. Colossians 2:16.) If by "the Sabbath" is meant the last day of the week strictly, the answer... [ Continue Reading ]
_One man esteemeth_, &c. Lit. ONE MAN JUDGETH DAY ABEVE DAY, BUT ANOTHER JUDGETH EVERY DAY. The "_judgeth_" in the second clause is an echo from the first, without which it would be obscure. As it stands, it means not only, as E. V., "esteemeth every day alike," but "every day _good_alike;" with a s... [ Continue Reading ]
_regardeth_ Lit. THINKETH, MINDETH. Same word as e. g. Romans 8:5. _unto the Lord_ i.e. the Lord _Christ_, "the Lord of the dead and living" (Romans 14:9). The word thus used is a good implicit proof of St Paul's view of the supreme dignity of Messiah; especially when we find him just below writing... [ Continue Reading ]
_For none of us_ Us the justified, the "sons of God." Here (and in Romans 14:8-9,) St Paul states the great principle on which the practice in question is, or should be, based. He takes it for granted that each Christian owns, and acts upon, a sense of the Lordship of Christ, because that Lordship i... [ Continue Reading ]
_we die unto the Lord_ In view of Romans 14:9, this must mean, "when we die, we do not pass out of His bondservice, but only into another mode of it: in the world to come we are still at His command, responsible to Him." Not so much the act of death as the _state of the departed_seems to be in quest... [ Continue Reading ]
_died, and rose, and revived_ Better, probably, DIED AND CAME TO LIFE. The words "_and rose_" appear to be interpolated. The balance of the clauses is thus made precise: He _died_and _lived;_He is Master of the _dead_and _living_. _that he might be Lord_ THAT HE MIGHT BECOME THE MASTER. The emphasi... [ Continue Reading ]
the same subject: mutual care and love more important and sacred than eager assertions of liberty 10. _But why dost thou_ "_Thou_" is strongly emphatic here, as in contrast to the Lord. So just below, in the next sentence. Cp. Romans 14:4. _thy brother_ Here, evidently, "thy brother in Christ;" on... [ Continue Reading ]
_it is written_ Isaiah 45:23. The Heb. there runs, "By myself have I sworn … to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." The LXX. runs, "By myself I swear, … that to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear (by) God." Here St Paul substitutes one frequent formula of Divine Oa... [ Continue Reading ]
_every one of us_ Because the prediction (finally to be fulfilled when Messiah finally triumphs) emphatically speaks of "_every_knee, _every_tongue." _give account of himself] "Himself"_is, of course, emphatic. The Christian is dissuaded from "judging" by the remembrance that his Judge will ask him... [ Continue Reading ]
_judge this rather_ The verb "to judge" is used elsewhere (e.g. Acts 20:16,) in the sense of "to decide, to determine." Here, of course, it is so used with epigrammatic emphasis just after the use of it in the ordinary sense. _that no man put_, &c. Wonderfully does this passage shew the harmony of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_by the Lord Jesus_ Lit. IN THE LORD JESUS; i.e. as one who is both a "member of Christ" and acts under His special influence. _unclean_ Lit. COMMON (as margin E. V.); i.e. ceremonially unclean. Cp. Acts 10:15. _of itself_ Lit. BY MEANS OF ITSELF; i.e. _per se_: "nothing _makes itself_unlawful" fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_But_ Another reading is FOR. The documentary evidence is doubtful; and the evidence of connexion favours BUT. If FOR is adopted, it must be explained by treating Romans 14:14 as a parenthesis; and thus connecting Romans 14:13; Romans 14:15: q. d., "resolve to lay no stumblingblock for others; _for... [ Continue Reading ]
_then_ THEREFORE. The word sums up and applies the previous reasonings. _your good_ i.e. your Christian light and liberty, in the "kingdom of God." Misuse of this would be sure to embitter Christian intercourse, and to weaken the tenderness of conscience and so the holiness of life in the community... [ Continue Reading ]
_the kingdom of God_ This important phrase occurs elsewhere in St Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:20; 1Co 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 4:11; 1Th 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Timothy 4:18. In these passages (as generally in N. T.) the radical meaning of the phrase is a... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he that in these things_, &c. The "_for_" indicates a connexion somewhat as follows: "the privileges of the Gospel are above all things _spiritual: for_the subjects of God's evangelical kingdom approve themselves as loyal to their King, and worthy of their privileges in the eyes of men, not so... [ Continue Reading ]
_the things which make for peace_ Lit. THE THINGS OF PEACE. So below, THE THINGS OF MUTUAL EDIFICATION. For remarks on the harmony between St Paul's _eirenicon_here and his stern warnings (e.g. in Galatians 1) against foundation-error, see long note on Romans 14:1 above. _edify_ Cp. Romans 15:2. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_destroy not_ Lit. LOOSEN, DISSOLVE, PULL DOWN. The word is used in contrast to the idea of _building up_in the previous words. Same word as e.g. Matthew 26:61; Matthew 27:40; Acts 6:14; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Galatians 2:18. _the work of God_ i.e. His building, the Church of His redeemed. _All things... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is good_ The word is in antithesis to the "_it is evil_" just before. The "strong" Christian might deem his own exercise of liberty good _per se;_and his "weak" brother's obedience to scruples evil _per se_. The Apostle shews him that the exact contrary might be the case. Not the _principle_of l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hast thou faith?_ "_Thou_" is emphatic, and marks the contrast of the persons the "strong" and the "weak." "_Faith_" here, as throughout the Epistle, is (in its radical idea) justifying faith; trustful acceptance of the Propitiation. But it has here a special reference to the _results_of that faith... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he that doubteth_ This verse, like the last clause, is really aimed at the "strong" Christian's mistaken conduct. He is reminded of the real sin he may occasion in his "weak" fellow-Christian. See last note but one. _doubteth_ He whose conscience is _not at ease_on the question of "meats." _i... [ Continue Reading ]