Romans 14 · Robertson's Word Pictures
1Him that is weak (ton asthenounta). See on 1Co 8:7-12; 9:22; Ro 4:19 .
Receive ye (proslambanesthe). Present middle imperative (indirect), "take to yourselves."
Yet not to doubtful disputations (me eis diakriseis dialogismon). "Not for decisions of opinions." Note dia (between, two or duo) in both words. Discriminations between doubts or hesitations. For diakrisis, see 1Co 12:10; Heb 5:14 (only N.T. examples). For dialogismos see Lu 2:35; 24:38; Php 2:14 . The "strong" brother is not called upon to settle all the scruples of the "weak" brother. But each takes it on himself to do it.
2One man (os men). "This one," demonstrative pronoun os with men.
Hath faith (pisteue). Like eche pistin (Ac 14:9 ).
But he that is weak (o de asthenon). One would expect os de (but that one) in contrast with os men. Ho is demonstrative with de sometimes, but here is probably just the article with asthenon.
Herbs (lachana). From lachano, to dig. Hence garden herbs or vegetables. Denney feels certain that Paul has in mind a party of vegetarians in Rome.
3Set at nought (exoutheneito). Present active imperative of exoutheneo, to treat as nothing and so with contempt (Lu 23:11; 1Th 5:20 ).
Judge (krineto). Present active imperative of krino, criticize. One side (the meat-eaters) despises the vegetarians, while the vegetarians criticize the meat-eaters.
Received him (auton proselabeto). Aorist middle (indirect) of proslambano, same verb used in verse 1. God took both sides into his fellowship without requiring that they be vegetarians or meat-eaters.
4Who art thou? (su tis ei?). Proleptic position of su, "thou who art thou?"
The servant of another (allotrion oiketen). Not another (allon) servant (household servant, oiketen), but "another's servant." For the adjective allotrios, see Lu 16:12; 2Co 10:15f .
Shall be made to stand (statheseta). Future passive of istem. In spite of your sharp criticisms of one another.
Hath power (dunate). Verb found only in Paul (2Co 9:8; 13:3; Ro 14:4 ), from verbal adjective dunatos.
5One man (os men),
another (os de). Regular idiom of contrasted demonstratives (this one, that one).
One day above another (emeran par' emeran). "Day beyond day." For this use of para (beside) in comparison see 1:25; Lu 13:2 .
Be fully assured (plerophoreistho). Present passive imperative of plerophoreo, late compound verb for which see on Lu 1:1; Ro 4:21 .
In his own mind (en to idio no). Intelligent and honest decision according to the light possessed by each.
6Regardeth (phrone). "Thinks of," "esteems," "observes," "puts his mind on" (from phren, mind). The Textus Receptus has also "he that regardeth not," but it is not genuine.
Unto the Lord (kurio). Dative case. So as to to theo (unto God). He eats unto the Lord, he eats not unto the Lord. Paul's principle of freedom in non-essentials is most important. The Jewish Christians still observed the Seventh day (the Sabbath). The Gentile Christians were observing the first day of the week in honour of Christ's Resurrection on that day. Paul pleads for liberty.
7To himself (eauto). Dative of advantage again. But to the Lord as he shows in verse 8. Life and death focus in the Lord.
8Whether--or (ean te--ean te). "Both if--and if" (condition of third class with present subjunctive (zomen--apothneskomen). Both living and dying are "to the Lord." Paul repeats the idiom (ean te--ean te) with the conclusion "we are the Lord's (tou kuriou esmen). Predicate genitive, "we belong to the Lord."
9And lived again (ka ezesen). First ingressive aorist active indicative of zao, "he came to life."
Might be lord of (kurieuse). Ingressive aorist active subjunctive of kurieuo, "become Lord of." Purpose clause with ina (that). Old verb from kurios, lord. See Lu 22:25; Ro 6:9 .
10But thou, why dost thou judge? (su de t su krineis?). Referring to the conduct of the "weak" brother in verse 3.
Or thou again (e ka su). Referring to the "strong" brother.
Shall stand before (parastesometha). Future middle of paristem and intransitive, to stand beside (para) with the locative case (to bemat, the judgment seat) as in Ac 27:24 . See the same figure of God in 2Co 5:10 .
11As I live (zo ego). "I live." The LXX here (Isa 45:23 ) has kat' emautou omnnuo, "I swear by myself."
Shall confess to God (exomologeseta to theo). Future middle of exomologeo, to confess openly (ex) with the accusative as in Mt 3:6 . With the dative as here the idea is to give praise to, to give gratitude to (Mt 11:25 ).
12Shall give account (logon dose). So Aleph A C rather than apodose of Textus Receptus. Common use of logos for account (bookkeeping, ledger) as in Lu 16:2 .
13Let us not therefore judge one another any more (meket oun allelous krinomen). Present active subjunctive (volitive). "Let us no longer have the habit of criticizing one another." A wonderfully fine text for modern Christians and in harmony with what the Master said (Mt 7:1 ).
That no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way or an occasion of falling (to me tithena proskomma to adelpho e skandalon). Articular present active infinitive of tithem in apposition with touto, accusative case after krinate: "Judge this rather, the not putting a stumbling block (see 9:32 for proskomma) or a trap (skandalon, 9:33) for his brother" (adelpho, dative of disadvantage).
14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus (oida ka pepeisma en kurio Iesou). He knows it and stands persuaded (perfect passive indicative of peitho, to persuade), but in the sphere of the Lord Jesus (cf. 9:1), not by mere rational processes.
Unclean of itself (kainon di' eautou). So Paul takes his stand with the "strong" as in 1Co 8:4f. , but he is not a libertine. Paul's liberty as to food is regulated by his life in the Lord. For this use of koinos, not as common to all (Ac 2:44; 4:32 ), but unhallowed, impure, see on Mr 7:2,5; Ac 10:14,28 . God made all things for their own uses.
Save that (e me). The exception lies not in the nature of the food (di' eautou), but in the man's view of it (to him, ekeino, dative case).
15Because of meat (dia broma). "Because of food."
In love (kata agapen). "According to love" as the regulating principle of life. See 1Co 8 where Paul pleads for love in place of knowledge on this point.
Destroy not (me apollue). Present active imperative of apolluo, the very argument made in 1Co 8:10f .
With thy meat (to bromat sou). Instrumental case, "with thy food." It is too great a price to pay for personal liberty as to food.
16Your good (umon to agathon). "The good thing of you" = the liberty or Christian freedom which you claim.
Be evil spoken of (blasphemeistho). Present passive imperative of blasphemeo for which see Mt 9:3; Ro 3:8 .
17The kingdom of God (e basileia tou theou). Not the future kingdom of eschatology, but the present spiritual kingdom, the reign of God in the heart, of which Jesus spoke so often. See 1Co 4:21 . Paul scores heavily here, for it is not found in externals like food and drink, but in spiritual qualities and graces.
18Herein (en touto). "On the principle implied by these virtues" (Sanday and Headlam).
Approved of men (dokimos tois anthropois). "Acceptable to men." Stands the test for men. See 1Co 11:19; 2Co 10:18; 2Ti 2:15 .
19So then (ara oun). Two inferential particles, "accordingly therefore."
Let us follow after (diokomen). Present active subjunctive (volitive). "Let us pursue." Some MSS. have present indicative, "we pursue."
The things which make for peace (ta tes eirenes). "The things of peace," literally, genitive case. So "the things of edification for one another" (ta tes oikodomes tes eis allelous).
20Overthrow not (me katalue). "Destroy not," "do not loosen down" (carrying on the metaphor in oikodome, building).
The work of God (to ergon tou theou). The brother for whom Christ died, verse 15. Perhaps with a side-glance at Esau and his mess of pottage.
But it is evil (alla kakon). Paul changes from the plural koina to the singular kakon.
With offence (dia proskommatos). "With a stumbling-block" as in verse 13. This use of dia (accompaniment) is common. So then it is addressed to the "strong" brother not to cause a stumbling-block by the way he eats and exercises his freedom.
21Not to eat (to me phagein). "The not eating." Articular infinitive (second aorist active of esthio) and subject of kalon estin (copula, understood).
Flesh (kreas). Old word, in N.T. only here and 1Co 8:13 .
To drink (pein). Shortened form for piein (second aorist active infinitive of pino).
Whereby (en o). "On which thy brother stumbleth" (proskopte).
22Have thou to thyself before God (su--kata seauton eche enopion tou theou). Very emphatic position of su at the beginning of the sentence, "Thou there." The old MSS. put en (relative "which") after pistin and before echeis. This principle applies to both the "strong" and the "weak." He is within his rights to act "according to thyself," but it must be "before God" and with due regard to the rights of the other brethren.
In that which he approveth (en o dokimaze). This beatitude cuts both ways. After testing and then approving (1:28; 2:18 ) one takes his stand which very act may condemn himself by what he says or does. "It is a rare felicity to have a conscience untroubled by scruples" (Denney).
23He that doubteth (o diakrinomenos). Present middle participle of diakrino, to judge between (dia), to hesitate. See Jas 1:6f. for this same picture of the double-minded man. Cf. Ro 4:20; Mr 11:23 .
Is condemned (katakekrita). Perfect passive indicative of katakrino (note kata-), "stands condemned."
If he eat (ean phage). Third class condition, ean and second aorist active subjunctive. If in spite of his doubt, he eat.
Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (pan o ouk ek pisteos amartia estin).
Faith (pistis) here is subjective, one's strong conviction in the light of his relation to Christ and his enlightened conscience. To go against this combination is sin beyond a doubt. Some MSS. (A L etc.) put the doxology here which most place in 16:25-27. But they all give chapters 15 and 16. Some have supposed that the Epistle originally ended here, but that is pure speculation. Some even suggest two editions of the Epistle. But chapter 15 goes right on with the topic discussed in chapter 14.
Romans 15