Romans 14:20-22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 14:22

Verse 22 22.Hast thou faith? In order to conclude, he shows in what consists the advantage of Christian liberty: it hence appears, that they boast falsely of liberty who know not how to make a right use of it. He then says, that liberty really understood, as it is that of faith, has properly a regard to God; so that he who is endued with a conviction of this kind, ought to be satisfied with peace of conscience before God; nor is it needful for him to show before men that he possesses it. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

F. The duty of enlightened Christians towards weak brethren. From moral duties in general of Christians towards each other and towards all the apostle now passes to such as they owe peculiarly to each other as members of a religious community, united by a common faith. He has already ( Romans 12:16 ) admonished his readers to be "of the same mind one toward another;" but, as was remarked under that verse, this did not imply agreement of view on all subjects, such as is impossible where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:1-23

Christian liberty. The general treatment of the ethics of the gospel is concluded, and now the apostle deals with a particular application which the condition of the Church at Rome required. There were some there, a minority probably, who were more or less in subjection to the spirit of the old Judaic economy, making distinctions of meats and of days. And when they came together for the Christian love-feasts, the differences were of awkward consequence. The stronger ones doubted whether... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:13-23

Deference to weak consciences, not condemnation of them. Having taken his readers up to the judgment-bar of Jesus, the only Lord of the conscience, he now proceeds to show how we are to help weak brethren. It will not be by condemning their scruples, but by following Christ in seeking their salvation. We are to defer to conscience so far as our weaker brother's spiritual interests are concerned, and surrender meat or wine, if by our total abstinence we can promote his salvation. I. WE... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:19-21

Let us therefore follow after the things that make for (literally, the things of ) peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another (literally, the things of the edification of one another ) . For meat's sake destroy not the work of God. "Destroy," or rather, overthrow— the word is κατάλυε , not ἀππόλλυε as in Romans 14:15 —is connected in thought with the edification, or building up ( οἰκοδομήν ) before spoken of. "The work of God" is that of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:21

A self-denying ordinance. A society is formed for mutual help. The prosperity of the whole is a prime factor in all our working and living. Wondrous the effect of the gospel in levelling distinctions of class, in banishing national enmities, and in making Jew and Gentile realize their adoption into the same family of God, their oneness of blood, their community of interests. I. THE STRONGER CAN HELP THE WEAKER , AND THE HIGHER STOOP TO THE POSITION OF THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 14:22

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God . Hast thou an enlightened faith, showing thee the unimportance of these observances? Do not parade it needlessly before men. θέλεις μαι δεῖξαι ὄτι τέλειος εἶ καὶ ἀπηρτισμένος μὴ ἐμοὶ δείκνοε ἀλλ ἀρκείτω τὸ συνειδός (Chrysostom). Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. Thy weak brother, if he abstains conscientiously, is thus happy; take care that thou art equally so in the exercise of thy... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 14:20

For meat - By your obstinate, pertinacious attachment to your own opinions about the distinctions of meat and drinks, do not pursue such a course as to lead a brother into sin, and ruin his soul. Here is a new argument presented why Christians should pursue a course of charity - that the opposite would tend to the ruin of the brother’s soul.Destroy not - The word here is what properly is applied to pulling down an edifice; and the apostle continues the figure which he used in the previous... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 14:21

It is good - It is right; or it is better. This verse is an explanation or enlarged specification of the meaning of the former.To eat flesh - That is, such flesh as the “Jewish” convert regarded as unclean; Romans 14:2.Nor to drink wine - Wine was a common drink among the Jews, and usually esteemed lawful. But the Nazarites were not allowed to drink it Numbers 6:3, and the Rechabites Jeremiah 35:0 drank no wine, and it is possible that some of the early converts regarded it as unlawful for... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 14:22

Hast thou faith? - The word “faith” here refers only to the subject under discussion - to the subject of meats, drinks, etc. Do you believe that it is right to eat all kinds of food, etc. The apostle had admitted that this was the true doctrine; but he maintains that it should be so held as not to give offence.Have it to thyself - Do not obtrude your faith or opinion on others. Be satisfied with cherishing the opinion, and acting on it in private, without bringing it forward to produce... read more

Group of Brands