THE EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
ROMANS

Romans 14

1Directions to treat a weak brother kindly, and not to despise or censure one another in matters of indifference. 7Christ's right to our best services, whether we live or die. 10We must all be answerable for our respective conduct at his judgment seat. 13We must be careful not to use our Christian liberty to the hurt or offence of tender consciences.


1HIM 1that is weak in the faith 2receive ye, but not 3to doubtful 4disputations.

1 That is, he who out of weakness does not yet rightly understand the point of the cessation of the ceremonies of the Old Testament, as there were many Jews at that time who were converted to the Christian religion, who, because the ceremonies were instituted by God Himself and they were brought up in the same, could not then yet truly believe that they might or ought to be laid aside, and therefore took offence when the believers of the Gentiles did not observe the same. He therefore does not here speak of those, who out of obstinacy, maintained and taught that the observation of the ceremonies was still necessary to salvation, against whom he deals in the epistle to the Galatians.

2 Namely, as a brother, with all kindness, bearing with his weakness in him. Philemon verses 12, 17.

3 Gr. to contention of conferences, or, doubting of the thoughts, namely, that ye do not bring him thereunto.

4 Or, reasonings, disagreements; that is, that ye do not dispute too much and too eagerly, and strive with him thereabout, and so perplex him, and bring him to greater doubting; or, that, to please you, he does nothing against his conscience.

2For 5one believeth that he may eat 6all things: another, 7who is weak, 8eateth herbs.

5 Namely, he who rightly understands christian liberty.

6 That is, all manner of meat that is to be eaten, without the difference of clean or unclean, which was in the Old Testament, Lev. 11:4; Deut. 14:7.

7 Namely, in the faith, verse 1.

8 Namely, rather than that herein he would not keep the law; that is, contents himself with simple food which was permitted in the law, and abstains himself from the flesh of swine, hares, conies, and others forbidden in the law, Lev. 11:5, etc.

3Leta not 9him that eateth 10despise him 11that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not 12judge him that eateth: for God hath received 13him.

a Col. 2:16.

9 That is, he who believes that a man may eat all manner of food, and does so also.

10 Gr. let him not account him as nothing. See of this word, Mark 9:12, Luke 23:11.

11 Namely, all manner of food, because he thinks that this is not lawful.

12 That is, condemn, namely, that he sins therein, or that therefore he is an irreligious man, or a despiser of the law.

13 That is, brought one as well as the other to the faith, and received him for one of His children in the communion of His church; and therefore he ought not to be despised or condemned by the people.

414Whob art thou that 15judgest 16another man’s servant? 17to his own master 18he standeth or 19falleth. Yea, he shall be 20holden up: for God is 21able to make him stand.

14 He reproves both the weak and the strong, that they despised and condemned one another.

b James 4:12.

15 That is, condemns, verse 3.

16 That is, thy brother, who is not thine, but God’s servant. Whereby he shows that such condemning is repugnant to the law of nature itself, according to which no man may condemn another man’s servant, over whom he has no right.

17 Namely, to whom he belongs, and who only has a right to judge him; when therefore he does not condemn him, thus his fellow servant ought not to condemn him.

18 That is, if he does well.

19 That is, if he sins.

20 That is, more and more increase and be confirmed in the faith.

21 That is, has not only the will, for He has received him, verse 3, but also the power to strengthen him in the faith, so that ye need not to dispute or contend much with him about it.

522Onec man 23esteemeth one day above another: 24another 25esteemeth every day alike. Let 26every man 27be fully persuaded 28in his own mind.

22 Namely, the believing Jew who does not yet rightly understand christian liberty.

c Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16.

23 Gr. judgeth, that is, thinks that the feast days of the Old Testament must yet be observed, and that therefore one day is holier than another.

24 Namely, the believing Gentile, who understands christian liberty.

25 Gr. each day, that is, holds that the distinction of days now ceases, and that we are now not obliged to the feast days of the Old Testament.

26 Namely, whether he eats or eats not; makes distinction of days, or makes no distinction.

27 Namely, that in so doing, he sins not, and intends not to offend God, and wittingly to do contrary to His will; and that consequently he also searches diligently which of the two is pleasing to God.

28 Or, in his own understanding.

6He that regardeth 29the day, regardeth it unto 30the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. 31He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, ford32he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and 33giveth God thanks.

29 That is, the feast days of the Old Testament, which the weak amongst the Jews thought must also be observed in the New Testament.

30 That is, intends nothing else but to give God thereby service and honor. So that they, both the weak and the strong, intend the same aim and purpose, and therefore must not condemn one another.

31 Namely, all kind of meat, and believes that this is lawful, verse 2.

d 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Tim. 4:3.

32 Namely, the strength for this liberty, and for the food, which he enjoys with a good conscience.

33 Namely, the weak one, howsoever he thinks some meats to be forbidden, that nevertheless God affords him wherewith he may be fed with a good conscience, 1 Tim. 4:5.

7Fore none 34of us 35liveth to himself, and no man 36dieth to himself.

e 2 Cor. 5:15; Gal. 2:20; 1 Thes. 5:10; 1 Peter 4:2.

34 Namely, believing Christians, whether strong or weak.

35 That is, must order his life not according to his own lust or profit; or as he will, seeing he is not his own, but is subject to Another, namely, to the Lord; according to Whose command, and for Whose service he must frame his life.

36 Namely, as if with his death it were totally done with him.

8For whether we live, 37we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, 38we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, 39we are the Lord's.

37 That is, we are under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, as being His own servants, bought by His blood, and must therefore bestow our life for His service and honor.

38 That is, we must be ready to lay down our life for the service and honor of the Lord, whenever it pleases Him; and shall give after our death an account of our doings.

39 That is, we are Christ’s property and servants who are subject to Him, and according to His command must live and die.

940For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the 41dead and living.

40 Here he proves that Christ is our Lord, and that He obtained this right of dominion over us by His death and resurrection; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18.

41 That is, over all believers, they who are yet alive as well as those who have died in the Lord, and who shall be raised up by Him again.

10But why dost 42thou 43judge 44thy brother? or why dost 45thou 46set at nought 47thy brother? forf we shall all stand 48before the judgment seat of Christ.

42 Namely, weak one.

43 That is, condemn, verse 3.

44 That is, the believing Christians, who understand and use the christian liberty.

45 Namely, strong in faith.

46 See verse 3.

47 Namely, who does not yet understand christian liberty, nor dares to use it because of this weakness.

f Mat. 25:31; 2 Cor. 5:10.

48 That is, before the judgment of God, which Christ, as Judge, shall hold, 2 Cor. 5:10, to Whom alone also belongs to judge over the consciences, and to Whom we must give an account of all that we have committed and omitted, verse 12.

11For it is written, As 49Ig live, 50saith the Lord, every 51knee shall bow 52to me, and 53every tongue shall 54confess to God.

49 That is, as truly as I live; a manner of taking an oath, which the Lord often uses; Num. 14:21, 28; Isa. 49:18; Jer. 22:24; Ezek. 5:11; 14:16, 18; 20:3

g Isa. 45:23; Philip. 2:10.

50 That which is spoken by the prophet of Jehovah, the true God, is here ascribed to Christ, to show that He also is the true God.

51 That is, yield reverence and obedience as to their Lord. See Philip. 2:10.

52 Namely, before Christ the Son of God and Savior. See Eph. 1:20, 22; Philip. 2:10.

53 That is, believers out of every nation, strong as well as weak, shall with their tongues and mouths confess Me to be the true God, and their Lord and Judge, Rom. 10:9, 10.

54 Or, praise, thank.

12Soh then 55every one of us shall give 56account 57of himself to 58God.

h Psalm 62:12; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Mat. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:5; Rev. 2:23; 22:12.

55 Whosoever he be, great or small, weak or strong.

56 Namely, how we have carried ourselves in this life. See Matthew 25; 2 Cor. 5:10.

57 That is, of his own actions and omissions, and not of another man’s actions.

58 That is, to the Lord Christ, Who is the true God, and shall transact the judgment of God.

13Let us not therefore 59judge one another any more: but 60judge this rather, thati61no man 62put 63a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his 64brother’s way.

59 That is, condemn, verses 4 and 10; namely, seeing judgment belongs to the Lord Christ.

60 That is, esteem and acknowledge that this is best and most seemly.

i 1 Cor. 10:32; 2 Cor. 6:3.

61 Namely, who are strong.

62 Gr. put, or, lay.

63 Namely, that by your unseasonable use of christian liberty, or rash condemning, he be not estranged from the christian religion. See 1 Cor. 8:9.

64 Namely, who is yet weak.

1465Ij know, and am persuaded 66by the Lord Jesus, that there is 67nothing 68unclean 69of itself: but to 70him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, 71to him it is unclean.

65 That is, although I know well.

j Mat. 15:11; Acts 10:15; 1 Cor. 8:4; 1 Tim. 4:4.

66 That is, by the Lord Christ. See Acts 10:15.

67 That is, no meat.

68 Gr. is common. See Acts 10:14. Namely, now in the New Testament, since the coming of Christ.

69 Or, by itself, that is, of its own nature, Gen. 1:31; 9:2, 3. He speaks of edible foods; though thereafter some have with respect to God’s prohibition been unclean for a time, yet now they are all to be accounted clean, forasmuch as those shadows now cease, Col. 2:16; 1 Tim. 4:3, 4.

70 That is, who does not yet believe that the distinction of meat now ceases, but thinks that this prohibition of God must still be continued. For, indifferent things are such to us as we esteem the same; when they may be done or omitted without offense.

71 That is, he may not eat against his judgment such meat; for therein he would do that which he himself holds to be sin.

15But if 72thy brother 73be grieved 74with thy meat, now walkest thou not 75charitably. 76Destroyk not him 77with thy meat, 78for whom Christ died.

72 That is, your weak fellow believer.

73 Namely, when he sees that you, who are strong, eat meat which was forbidden in the Old Testament, thinking that therein you sin against God; which grieves the godly. Or, seeing that thereby you do, as it were, despise and condemn them.

74 That is, because he sees that you eat meat which he holds to be forbidden by God to Christians.

75 For charity grieves or offends no man, but seeks to condescend to the weak to yield to them, and to strengthen them in the faith, 1 Cor. 13:4, etc.

76 Namely, as much as is in you; thereby estranging him from the christian religion. Or, if he follows your example against his conscience, whereby wounding the same, whereby his faith is brought into danger.

k 1 Cor. 8:11.

77 That is, eating meat before him, which he thinks to be still forbidden.

78 Namely, to save him, whom you, as much as lies in you, destroy, which is an abominable sin, which is also committed against Christ, 1 Cor. 8:12. Otherwise, according to the judgment of charity, we must account all those who confess the faith of Christ, for such whom Christ has redeemed by His death. For that they, who are once truly redeemed by the death of Christ, shall not perish, is taught in Mat. 24:24; John 10:28; 1 Peter 1:5.

16Let not then 79your good be 80evil spoken of:

79 That is, your christian liberty and the use of the same.

80 By the weak Christians as well as by those who are without, when they shall see that the Christians contend one with another for such slight matters.

17Forl81the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but 82righteousness, and 83peace, and 84joy 85in the Holy Ghost.

l 1 Cor. 8:8.

81 That is, the Kingdom of glory or eternal salvation is not obtained by eating or not eating of meat, neither is the Kingdom of grace or true godliness promoted thereby. See 1 Cor. 8:8.

82 Namely, of God or of faith, which is described previously, Rom. 4:5; wherewith holiness of life must be joined also.

83 Namely, quietness in our hearts and consciences, by being assured that we and our actions are acceptable to God by faith, Rom. 5:1, and also outward peace and unity amongst the brethren.

84 That is, a spiritual joy in the heart, arising from a firm hope of salvation, and from observing the welfare of the church, flourishing in peace.

85 Or, through the Holy Ghost, that is, which is wrought and kindled by the Holy Ghost, and is a spiritual, not a worldly joy.

18For he that 86in these things 87serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and 88approved 89of men.

86 That is, he, who seeks his righteousness by faith in Christ, strives after true holiness, and feels in himself the peace and joy of the Holy Ghost, and always endeavors after peace.

87 Shows to Christ the obedience and worship which He requires from us.

88 Or, acceptable to, that is, found and esteemed good and godly.

89 Namely, who judge aright.

19Let us therefore 90follow after 91the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may 92edify 93another.

90 Gr. proceed, that is, seek all manner of ways. See the like, Psalm 34:14.

91 That is, let us use all means to keep peace among the faithful; and avoid whatsoever might break or hinder the same.

92 A similitude taken from the building of an house or temple, that is, let us seek after that whereby the church of God, which is the house of the living God, 1 Tim. 3:15, and Heb. 3:6, may be built and edified, Mat. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 13:10; Eph. 4:12; 1 Tim. 1:4.

93 That is, on both sides, each contributing that which is beneficial for the edification of the congregation, the weak by increasing in the knowledge of christian liberty and not condemning the others; and the strong in receiving of the weak with avoiding of giving offenses, and of despising of the weak.

2094For meat 95destroy not 96the work of God. 97Allm things indeed are pure; but it is 98evil for that man who eateth 99with offence.

94 That is, for such a slight matter, as it is to eat this or that meat.

95 Gr. unloose not, or, dissolve not, namely, as much as lies in you, by unreasonable use of the christian liberty, despising and offense; this is opposed to building up or edifying.

96 That is, the faith of the weak brother, who God has begun to work in him for his salvation. For, it is a great sin to break down that which God builds.

97 That is, I acknowledge indeed that it is now lawful for Christians to eat all kind of meats. See verse 14.

m Titus 1:15.

98 That is, sinful and hurtful.

99 Namely, of the weak.

21100Itn is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby 101thy brother 102stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

100 That is, useful for the edification of the weak in the congregation.

n 1 Cor. 8:13.

101 Namely, who is yet weak in the faith.

102 That is, when such eating or drinking, etc., gives offense to the weak. So that the abstaining from such meat or drink is good for avoiding of offense. See 1 Cor. 8:13.

22103Hast thou faith? 104have it to thyself 105before God. Happy is he that 106condemneth not himself 107in that thing which he alloweth.

103 Namely, whereby you know and are assured that Christians have the liberty to eat all kinds of meat. See verses 2 and 14; 1 Cor. 8:1.

104 Namely, in your own conscience, without showing the same with offense before the weak brethren.

105 Namely, Who knows nevertheless that you have that faith, although you show it not in such a manner. Or, have it so, that the use of it may please God, to Whom we must give account, and Whom we must not provoke.

106 That is, judges, namely, so misusing his liberty with offense that thereby he deserves to be reproved by the brethren, and to be judged by God.

107 That is, that which he understands and esteems to be lawful, when it is done without offense. Gr. in that which he approveth.

23And he 108that doubteth 109is damned 110if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: foro whatsoever is not 111of faith is sin.

108 That is, who is not yet perfectly assured that all kind of meats are now clean and allowed.

109 That is, wounds his conscience and makes himself liable to damnation.

110 Namely, any meat forbidden in the Old Testament.

o Titus 1:15.

111 That is, is done without being assured that the work which we do is pleasing to God in Christ. Or, that which does not proceed out of a believing heart, without which neither our works nor our persons can please God. Heb. 11:6.