Romans:14:1-15:13
rwp@Romans:14:1 @{Him that is weak} (\ton asthenounta\). See on ¯1Corinthians:8:7-12; strkjv@9:22; strkjv@Romans:4:19|. {Receive ye} (\proslambanesthe\). Present middle imperative (indirect), "take to yourselves." {Yet not to doubtful disputations} (\m eis diakriseis dialogismn\). "Not for decisions of opinions." Note \dia\ (between, two or \duo\) in both words. Discriminations between doubts or hesitations. For \diakrisis\, see strkjv@1Corinthians:12:10; strkjv@Hebrews:5:14| (only N.T. examples). For \dialogismos\ see strkjv@Luke:2:35; strkjv@24:38; strkjv@Phillipians: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.
rwp@Romans:14:2 @{One man} (\hos men\). "This one," demonstrative pronoun \hos\ with \men\. {Hath faith} (\pisteuei\). Like \echei pistin\ (Acts:14:9|). {But he that is weak} (\ho de asthenn\). One would expect \hos de\ (but that one) in contrast with \hos men\. \Ho\ is demonstrative with \de\ sometimes, but here is probably just the article with \asthenn\. {Herbs} (\lachana\). From \lachan\, to dig. Hence garden herbs or vegetables. Denney feels certain that Paul has in mind a party of vegetarians in Rome.
rwp@Romans:14:3 @{Set at nought} (\exoutheneit\). Present active imperative of \exouthene\, to treat as nothing and so with contempt (Luke:23:11; strkjv@1Thessalonians:5:20|). {Judge} (\krinet\). Present active imperative of \krin\, criticize. One side (the meat-eaters) despises the vegetarians, while the vegetarians criticize the meat-eaters. {Received him} (\auton proselabeto\). Aorist middle (indirect) of \proslamban\, same verb used in verse 1|. God took both sides into his fellowship without requiring that they be vegetarians or meat-eaters.
rwp@Romans:14:4 @{Who art thou?} (\su tis ei?\). Proleptic position of \su\, "thou who art thou?" {The servant of another} (\allotrion oiketn\). Not another (\allon\) servant (household servant, \oiketn\), but "another's servant." For the adjective \allotrios\, see strkjv@Luke:16:12; strkjv@2Corinthians:10:15f|. {Shall be made to stand} (\stathsetai\). Future passive of \histmi\. In spite of your sharp criticisms of one another. {Hath power} (\dunatei\). Verb found only in Paul (2Corinthians:9:8; strkjv@13:3; strkjv@Romans:14:4|), from verbal adjective \dunatos\.
rwp@Romans:14:5 @{One man} (\hos men\), {another} (\hos de\). Regular idiom of contrasted demonstratives (this one, that one). {One day above another} (\hmeran par' hmeran\). "Day beyond day." For this use of \para\ (beside) in comparison see strkjv@1:25; strkjv@Luke:13:2|. {Be fully assured} (\plrophoreisth\). Present passive imperative of \plrophore\, late compound verb for which see on ¯Luke:1:1; strkjv@Romans:4:21|. {In his own mind} (\en ti idii noi\). Intelligent and honest decision according to the light possessed by each.
rwp@Romans:14:6 @{Regardeth} (\phronei\). "Thinks of," "esteems," "observes," "puts his mind on" (from \phrn\, mind). The Textus Receptus has also "he that regardeth not," but it is not genuine. {Unto the Lord} (\kurii\). Dative case. Songs:as to \ti thei\ (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.
rwp@Romans:14:7 @{To himself} (\heauti\). Dative of advantage again. But to the Lord as he shows in verse 8|. Life and death focus in the Lord.
rwp@Romans:14:8 @{Whether--or} (\ean te--ean te\). "Both if--and if" (condition of third class with present subjunctive (\zmen--apothnskmen\). 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."
rwp@Romans:14:9 @{And lived again} (\kai ezsen\). First ingressive aorist active indicative of \za\, "he came to life." {Might be lord of} (\kurieusei\). Ingressive aorist active subjunctive of \kurieu\, "become Lord of." Purpose clause with \hina\ (that). Old verb from \kurios\, lord. See strkjv@Luke:22:25; strkjv@Romans:6:9|.
rwp@Romans:14:10 @{But thou, why dost thou judge?} (\su de ti su krineis?\). Referring to the conduct of the "weak" brother in verse 3|. {Or thou again} (\ kai su\). Referring to the "strong" brother. {Shall stand before} (\parastsometha\). Future middle of \paristmi\ and intransitive, to stand beside (\para\) with the locative case (\ti bemati\, the judgment seat) as in strkjv@Acts:27:24|. See the same figure of God in strkjv@2Corinthians:5:10|.
rwp@Romans:14:11 @{As I live} (\z eg\). "I live." The LXX here (Isaiah:45:23|) has \kat' emautou omnnu\, "I swear by myself." {Shall confess to God} (\exomologsetai ti thei\). Future middle of \exomologe\, to confess openly (\ex\) with the accusative as in strkjv@Matthew:3:6|. With the dative as here the idea is to give praise to, to give gratitude to (Matthew:11:25|).
rwp@Romans:14:12 @{Shall give account} (\logon dsei\). Songs:Aleph A C rather than \apodsei\ of Textus Receptus. Common use of \logos\ for account (bookkeeping, ledger) as in strkjv@Luke:16:2|.
rwp@Romans:14:13 @{Let us not therefore judge one another any more} (\mketi oun alllous krinmen\). 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 (Matthew:7:1|). {That no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way or an occasion of falling} (\to m tithenai proskomma ti adelphi skandalon\). Articular present active infinitive of \tithmi\ in apposition with \touto\, accusative case after \krinate\: "Judge this rather, the not putting a stumbling block (see strkjv@9:32| for \proskomma\) or a trap (\skandalon\, strkjv@9:33|) for his brother" (\adelphi\, dative of disadvantage).
rwp@Romans:14:14 @{I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus} (\oida kai pepeismai en kurii Isou\). He knows it and stands persuaded (perfect passive indicative of \peith\, to persuade), but in the sphere of the Lord Jesus (cf. strkjv@9:1|), not by mere rational processes. {Unclean of itself} (\kainon di' heautou\). Songs:Paul takes his stand with the "strong" as in strkjv@1Corinthians: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 (Acts:2:44; strkjv@4:32|), but unhallowed, impure, see on ¯Mark:7:2,5; strkjv@Acts:10:14,28|. God made all things for their own uses. {Save that} (\ei m\). The exception lies not in the nature of the food (\di' heautou\), but in the man's view of it (to him, \ekeini\, dative case).
rwp@Romans:14:15 @Because of meat (\dia brma\). "Because of food." {In love} (\kata agapn\). "According to love" as the regulating principle of life. See strkjv@1Corinthians:8| where Paul pleads for love in place of knowledge on this point. {Destroy not} (\m apollue\). Present active imperative of \apollu\, the very argument made in strkjv@1Corinthians:8:10f|. {With thy meat} (\ti brmati sou\). Instrumental case, "with thy food." It is too great a price to pay for personal liberty as to food.
rwp@Romans:14:16 @{Your good} (\humn to agathon\). "The good thing of you" = the liberty or Christian freedom which you claim. {Be evil spoken of} (\blasphmeisth\). Present passive imperative of \blasphme\ for which see strkjv@Matthew:9:3; strkjv@Romans:3:8|.
rwp@Romans:14:17 @{The kingdom of God} (\h 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 strkjv@1Corinthians:4:21|. Paul scores heavily here, for it is not found in externals like food and drink, but in spiritual qualities and graces.
rwp@Romans:14:18 @{Herein} (\en touti\). "On the principle implied by these virtues" (Sanday and Headlam). {Approved of men} (\dokimos tois anthrpois\). "Acceptable to men." Stands the test for men. See strkjv@1Corinthians:11:19; strkjv@2Corinthians:10:18; strkjv@2Timothy:2:15|.
rwp@Romans:14:19 @{Songs:then} (\ara oun\). Two inferential particles, "accordingly therefore." {Let us follow after} (\dikmen\). Present active subjunctive (volitive). "Let us pursue." Some MSS. have present indicative, "we pursue." {The things which make for peace} (\ta ts eirns\). "The things of peace," literally, genitive case. Songs:"the things of edification for one another" (\ta ts oikodoms ts eis alllous\).
rwp@Romans:14:20 @{Overthrow not} (\m katalue\). "Destroy not," "do not loosen down" (carrying on the metaphor in \oikodom\, 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. Songs:then it is addressed to the "strong" brother not to cause a stumbling-block by the way he eats and exercises his freedom.
rwp@Romans:14:21 @{Not to eat} (\to m phagein\). "The not eating." Articular infinitive (second aorist active of \esthi\) and subject of \kalon estin\ (copula, understood). {Flesh} (\kreas\). Old word, in N.T. only here and strkjv@1Corinthians:8:13|. {To drink} (\pein\). Shortened form for \piein\ (second aorist active infinitive of \pin\). {Whereby} (\en hi\). "On which thy brother stumbleth" (\proskoptei\).
rwp@Romans:14:22 @{Have thou to thyself before God} (\su--kata seauton eche enpion tou theou\). Very emphatic position of \su\ at the beginning of the sentence, "Thou there." The old MSS. put \hn\ (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 hoi dokimazei\). This beatitude cuts both ways. After testing and then approving (1:28; strkjv@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).
rwp@Romans:14:23 @{He that doubteth} (\ho diakrinomenos\). Present middle participle of \diakrin\, to judge between (\dia\), to hesitate. See strkjv@James:1:6f.| for this same picture of the double-minded man. Cf. strkjv@Romans:4:20; strkjv@Mark:11:23|. {Is condemned} (\katakekritai\). Perfect passive indicative of \katakrin\ (note \kata-\), "stands condemned." {If he eat} (\ean phagi\). 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 ho ouk ek pistes hamartia 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 strkjv@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.
rwp@Romans:15:1 @{We the strong} (\hmeis hoi dunatoi\). Paul identifies himself with this wing in the controversy. He means the morally strong as in strkjv@2Corinthians:12:10; strkjv@13:9|, not the mighty as in strkjv@1Corinthians:1:26|. {The infirmities} (\ta asthenmata\). "The weaknesses" (cf. \asthenn\ in strkjv@14:1,2|), the scruples "of the not strong" (\tn adunatn\). See strkjv@Acts:14:8| where it is used of the man weak in his feet (impotent). {To bear} (\bastazein\). As in strkjv@Galatians:6:2|, common in the figurative sense. {Not to please ourselves} (\m heautois areskein\). Precisely Paul's picture of his own conduct in strkjv@1Corinthians:10:33|.
rwp@Romans:15:2 @{For that which is good} (\eis to agathon\). "For the good." As in strkjv@14:16,19|. Not to please men just for popular favours, but for their benefit.
rwp@Romans:15:3 @{Pleased not himself} (\ouch heauti resen\). Aorist active indicative of \aresk\ with the usual dative. The supreme example for Christians. See strkjv@14:15|. He quotes strkjv@Psalms:69:9| (Messianic Psalm) and represents the Messiah as bearing the reproaches of others.
rwp@Romans:15:4 @{Were written aforetime} (\proegraph\). Second aorist passive indicative of \prograph\, old verb, in N.T. only here, strkjv@Galatians:3:1| (which see); strkjv@Ephesians:3:3; strkjv@Jude:1:4|. {For our learning} (\eis tn hmeteran didaskalian\). "For the instruction of us." Objective sense of possessive pronoun \hmeteros\. See strkjv@Matthew:15:9; strkjv@2Timothy:3:16| for \didaskalian\ (from \didask\, to teach). {We might have hope} (\tn elpida echmen\). Present active subjunctive of \ech\ with \hina\ in final clause, "that we might keep on having hope." One of the blessed uses of the Scriptures.
rwp@Romans:15:5 @{The God of patience and comfort} (\ho theos ts hupomons kai ts paraklses\). Genitive case of the two words in verse 4| used to describe God who uses the Scriptures to reveal himself to us. See strkjv@2Corinthians:1:3| for this idea; strkjv@Romans:15:13| for "the God of hope"; strkjv@15:33| for "the God of peace." {Grant you} (\di humin\). Second aorist active optative (_Koin_ form for older \doi\) as in strkjv@2Thessalonians:3:16; strkjv@Ephesians:1:17; strkjv@2Timothy:1:16,18; strkjv@2:25|, though MSS. vary in strkjv@Ephesians:1:17; strkjv@2Timothy:2:25| for \di\ (subjunctive). The optative here is for a wish for the future (regular idiom). {According to Christ Jesus} (\kata Christon Isoun\). "According to the character or example of Christ Jesus" (2Corinthians:11:17; strkjv@Colossians:2:8; strkjv@Ephesians:5:24|).
rwp@Romans:15:6 @{With one accord} (\homothumadon\). Here alone in Paul, but eleven times in Acts (Acts:1:14|, etc.). {With one mouth} (\en heni stomati\). Vivid outward expression of the unity of feeling. {May glorify} (\doxazte\). Present active subjunctive of \doxaz\, final clause with \hina\ "that ye may keep on glorifying." For "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" see strkjv@2Corinthians:1:3; strkjv@9:31| for discussion. It occurs also in strkjv@Ephesians:1:3; strkjv@1Peter:1:3|.
rwp@Romans:15:7 @{Receive ye} (\proslambanesthe\ as in strkjv@14:1|), {received} (\proselabeto\, here of Christ as in strkjv@14:3| of God). The repetition here is addressed to both the strong and the weak and the "us" (\hms\) includes all.
rwp@Romans:15:8 @{A minister of the circumcision} (\diakonon peritoms\). Objective genitive, "a minister to the circumcision." \Diakonon\ is predicate accusative with \gegensthai\ (perfect passive infinitive of \ginomai\ in indirect assertion after \leg\, I say) and in apposition with \Christon\, accusative of general reference with the infinitive. See strkjv@Galatians:4:4f|. {That he might confirm} (\eis to bebaisai\). Purpose clause with \eis to\ and the infinitive \bebaisai\ (first aorist active of \bebaio\, to make stand). {The promises given unto the fathers} (\tas epaggelias tn patern\). No "given" in the Greek, just the objective genitive, "the promises to the fathers." See strkjv@9:4,5|.
rwp@Romans:15:9 @{And that the Gentiles might praise} (\ta de ethn doxasai\). Coordinate with \bebaisai\ and \eis to\, to be repeated with \ta ethn\, the accusative of general reference and \ton theon\ the object of \doxasai\. Thus the Gentiles were called through the promise to the Jews in the covenant with Abraham (4:11f.,16f.|). Salvation is of the Jews. Paul proves his position by a chain of quotations from the O.T., the one in verse 9| from strkjv@Psalms:18:50|. For \exomologe\, see strkjv@14:10|. {I will sing} (\psal\). Future active of \psall\, for which verb see on strkjv@1Corinthians:14:15|.
rwp@Romans:15:10 @{Rejoice, ye Gentiles} (\euphranthte\). First aorist passive imperative of \euphrain\, old word from \eu\, well and \phrn\, mind. See strkjv@Luke:15:32|. Quotation from strkjv@Deuteronomy:32:43| (LXX).
rwp@Romans:15:11 @{All the Gentiles} (\panta ta ethn\). From strkjv@Psalms:117:1| with slight variations from the LXX text.
rwp@Romans:15:12 @{The root} (\h riza\). Rather here, as in strkjv@Revelation:5:5; strkjv@23:16|, the sprout from the root. From strkjv@Isaiah:11:10|. {On him shall the Gentiles hope} (\ep' auti ethn elpiousin\). Attic future of \elpiz\ for the usual \elpisousin\.
rwp@Romans:15:13 @{The God of hope} (\ho theos ts elpidos\). Taking up the idea in verse 12| as in verse 5| from 4|. {Fill you} (\plrsai humas\). Optative (first aorist active of \plro\) of wish for the future. Cf. \di\ in verse 5|. {In believing} (\en ti pisteuein\). "In the believing" (\en\ with locative of the articular infinitive, the idiom so common in Luke's Gospel). {That ye may abound} (\eis to perisseuein humas\). Purpose clause with \eis to\, as in verse 8|, with \perisseuein\ (present active infinitive of \perisseu\, with accusative of general reference, \humas\). This verse gathers up the points in the preceding quotations.
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