Romans 14:22

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 resultsof that faith in regard of ceremonial restrictions the "strong" Christian's decided view that he is wholly above such restrictions, because "justified by faith."

have it to thyself i.e. keep it to thyself. The Gr. verb in this phrase can be rendered either "have" or "keep" ;and thus affords a slight "play" on the same word (" Hastthou faith?") just before. St Paul's meaning is that faith, with its results, is not a matter for personal display the use to which many Christians were tempted to put it. Admirable is this plain warning in the very Epistle in which the preciousness and power of justifying faith have been the primary topic.

before God In the calm, and heartsearching, secrecy of the soul's intercourse with Him.

Happy is he, &c. In this clause, and the next verse, we have a double warning; (1) of the "strong" Christian's risk in the eager assertion of his liberty; (2) of the "weak" Christian's sin, should he violate his conscience the thought of which must check the conduct of the "strong" in dealing with him. The present clause may be paraphrased, "Happy is the man who so understands his liberty as never to misapply it to sinful indulgence! For the risk is great; self-assertion may easily take the place of the assertion of free grace;and so you may persuade yourself to accept as an act of true freedom what is really a moral wrong, and thus bring yourself into judgment."

condemneth Lit. judgeth; but the connexion implies the guiltof the party on trial, and thus E. V. is practically right.