Romans 14:17

οὐ γάρ κ.τ.λ. No question of fundamental principle is raised; you may suspend your freedom in such matters: for the fundamental matters are etc.

οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ. β. τ. θ. Cf. Matthew 6:31-33, ib[285] Romans 5:3 f. This is one of the clearest particular cases of the influence of the teaching recorded in the Gospels upon S. Paul’s thought and language; cf. S. H. p. 381. Knowling, The witness of the Epistles, p. 312; id. The Testimony of S. Paul to Christ, p. 316 f.

[285] ib. ibidem

ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ. Here and 1 Corinthians 4:20 only does S. Paul speak of ‘GOD’s sovereignty’ as a present condition: in other places he speaks of it as a future condition, participation in which is dependent upon character formed in the present life; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 5:21; Colossians 4:11 (?); 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5. In Colossians 1:13 the present condition is regarded as the sovereignty of His Son or Christ. The two conceptions are combined in Ephesians 5:5 and 1 Corinthians 15:24; cf. Luke 22:29 f.; John 18:36. (Robinson, Eph. p. 117.) On the meaning of the phrase = ‘government or sovereignty of GOD,’ cf. Dalman, The Words of Jesus, E. T., p. 91 f. Dalman, op. cit[286] p. 135, points out “that the phrase (in Jewish literature) never means the locus of the divine sovereignty but the power itself in its present and future manifestations in the teaching of Jesus. The idea is closely connected with the ‘life of the future age,’ and includes comprehensively the blessings of salvation.” The use here regards the effect of GOD’s government as already operative in those that are His and producing in them that condition of life which is a fit preparation for the future life when the ‘sovereignty’ will be fully revealed. For the connexion of ἡ βας. τ. θ. with δικαιοσύνη in S. Paul cf. Sanday, J. T. S., I., p. 481.

[286] op. cit. opus citatum

βρῶσις καὶ πόσις, ‘eating and drinking’; cf. Luke 22:30. The Gospel gives a metaphorical description of the common life of joy and love in the future life. S. Paul here declares that the character of that life does not depend on these external matters but on the moral and spiritual state.

δικαιοσύνη κ.τ.λ. Cf. Psalms 96-99, descriptions of the revealed and established sovereignty of Jehovah and the conditions it brings in; cf. Dalman, op. cit[287], p. 136; cf. also Luke 17:21 : and Matthew 5:3-12.

[287] op. cit. opus citatum

δικαιοσύνη. Here ‘righteousness,’ as describing the condition of those who do GOD’s will—cf. the negative 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:21.

εἰρήνη. Peace with GOD and between man and man; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (after 12–22), 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (after 6–15).

χαρὰ. The natural outcome of righteousness and peace; cf. Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22.

ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. In the Holy Spirit—inspired by and dependent on Him; cf. Gal. l.c[288], 1 Thessalonians 1:6.

[288] l.c. locus citatus