XIV. There appears to have been a party in the Church at Rome which had adopted certain ascetic practices over and above the common rule of Christianity. We gather that they abstained altogether from flesh and wine, and that they (or possibly some other persons in the same church) also made a point... [ Continue Reading ]
WEAK IN THE FAITH... — The presence of a single strong master-motive is apt to silence petty scruples. Where the “eye is single” — where all the powers and faculties of the man are concentrated upon one object, and that object the highest that can engage human thought or affection — there will natur... [ Continue Reading ]
BELIEVETH THAT HE MAY... — Rather, perhaps, _hath confidence to eat all things._ His faith is strong enough to prevent his conscience from becoming uneasy.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT HIM THAT EATETH. — The two classes of men are exposed to two opposite faults. The strong _despise_ the weak; the weak _judge_ the strong. In the one case there is contempt for what is thought to be narrowness and pedantry. In the other case censorious judgments are passed on what is regarded... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ART THOU? — This is addressed to the weak. The Apostle indignantly challenges his right to judge. That right belongs to another tribunal, before which the conduct of the stronger Christian will not be condemned but approved and upheld. HE STANDETH OR FALLETH. — It seems most in accordance with... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE MAN ESTEEMETH. — For the observance of days and seasons, compare Galatians 4:10; Colossians 2:16. From these passages, taken together, it is clear that the observance of special days has no absolute sanction, but is purely a question of religious expediency. That, however, is sufficient ground o... [ Continue Reading ]
REGARDETH. — Much as we might say, “he who minds the day,” or directs his thoughts and feelings to it. HE THAT REGARDETH NOT THE DAY, TO THE LORD HE DOTH NOT REGARD IT. — This clause is omitted by the best MSS. and editors. FOR HE GIVETH GOD THANKS. — By the saying of grace at meat, the meal, what... [ Continue Reading ]
DIETH TO HIMSELF. — Even in the act of death the Christian is conscious of his relation to Christ; he dies “in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
(7-9) The larger principle holds good, and therefore much more the smaller. It is not only his food that the Christian consecrates to God (or rather, immediately, to Christ, and through Christ to God), but his whole life, to its very last moments.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ROSE, AND REVIVED. — For these words the best MSS. substitute simply “and lived.” The Received text is a gloss upon this. It was through the resurrection that Christ was finally enthroned at His Father’s right hand, and that universal dominion was given to Him.... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. — The true reading is, _of God. _... [ Continue Reading ]
(10-12) Such being our relations to Christ, and such the judgment to which we look forward, there is no room for any human judgment. Censoriousness is thus condemned.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS I LIVE. — The original has, “I have sworn by Myself,” for which St. Paul, quoting from memory, substitutes another common Hebrew formula — “As I live,” or, “by my life.” SHALL CONFESS... — The Greek word is capable of two renderings — “confess” and “praise:” Most commentators prefer the latter,... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGE THIS RATHER. — The word “judge” forms the connecting-link between what follows and what has gone before. If any judgment is to be formed at all, let it be rather as a principle to guide our own action, and not in the shape of a criticism upon others. This principle, in the case of those who ar... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW, AND AM PERSUADED. — The Apostle clearly identifies himself with the less scrupulous party. For one of his intense penetration and grasp on the realities of things, any other position was impossible. But while these essential features in the Apostle’s character find the noblest expression, we... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT. — The true reading is undoubtedly _For,_ the connection of which is somewhat difficult to trace. It appears to leap over Romans 14:14, and go back to Romans 14:13. We may suppose that the substance of this verse recurs to the Apostle’s mind after the parenthetical statement just inserted, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR GOOD. — That blessing of Christian liberty which you enjoy. This is not to be used so as to give rise to reproaches and recriminations which will make a bad impression on the outside world.... [ Continue Reading ]
MEAT AND DRINK. — Strictly, _eating and drinking._ RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST. — By “righteousness and peace” is not here meant imputed righteousness, or justification and reconciliation with God, but rather the moral condition of righteousness in the Christian himself, and... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THESE THINGS. — The more correct reading is, _in this_ (_way_). The meaning, however, is the same. SERVETH CHRIST. — Here the principle of unity which holds together different sides and manifestations of the Christian character is indicated. APPROVED OF MEN. — So that He will not be “evil spoke... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US THEREFORE FOLLOW. — The best MSS. have the indicative mood, “so then we follow.” There is, however, some good support for the Received text, especially in the patristic quotations and versions; and mistakes of this kind were peculiarly liable to be made. EDIFY. — The word has unfortunately l... [ Continue Reading ]
DESTROY NOT. — A different word from that employed in Romans 14:15. It is the correlative and opposite of “edify,” and means to “unbuild” or “pull down.” THE WORK OF GOD. — The fabric which the grace of God has begun, and which the edification of Christians by each other may help to raise in the so... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS GOOD NEITHER TO EAT FLESH. — These direct, clear, incisive sentences are as characteristic of the style of the Apostle (when he is dealing with moral questions of present urgency, and not with the abstract problems of theology) as the generous impulse which prompts them is of his heart. ANY T... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU FAITH? — It is with some reluctance that in deference to the union of the four best MSS. we give up the Received text here, and substitute (by the insertion of the relative) “The faith which thou hast, have to thyself before God,” _i.e.,_ reserve the exhibition of it to the privacy of your... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT DOUBTETH. — The one thing which justifies a man in neglecting such nice and punctilious distinctions is a faith so strong that it can afford to make light of them. Where faith is not strong enough for this, and where the conscience deliberately approves one course, and the other course i... [ Continue Reading ]