collapse all  

Text -- Romans 14:2 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
14:2 One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
, Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey

Other
Evidence

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Rom 14:2 - -- One man ( hos men ). "This one,"demonstrative pronoun hos with men .

One man ( hos men ).

"This one,"demonstrative pronoun hos with men .

Robertson: Rom 14:2 - -- Hath faith ( pisteuei ). Like echei pistin (Act 14:9).

Hath faith ( pisteuei ).

Like echei pistin (Act 14:9).

Robertson: Rom 14:2 - -- But he that is weak ( ho de asthenōn ). One would expect hos de (but that one) in contrast with hos men . Ho is demonstrative with de sometim...

But he that is weak ( ho de asthenōn ).

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 asthenōn .

Robertson: Rom 14:2 - -- Herbs ( lachana ). From lachanō , to dig. Hence garden herbs or vegetables. Denney feels certain that Paul has in mind a party of vegetarians in Ro...

Herbs ( lachana ).

From lachanō , to dig. Hence garden herbs or vegetables. Denney feels certain that Paul has in mind a party of vegetarians in Rome.

Vincent: Rom 14:2 - -- Believeth that he may eat ( πιστεύει φαγεῖν ) The A.V. conveys the sense of having an opinion , thinking . But the point ...

Believeth that he may eat ( πιστεύει φαγεῖν )

The A.V. conveys the sense of having an opinion , thinking . But the point is the strength or weakness of the man's faith (see Rom 14:1) as it affects his eating. Hence Rev., correctly, hath faith to eat .

Vincent: Rom 14:2 - -- Herbs ( λάχανα ) From λαχαίνω to dig . Herbs grown on land cultivated by digging: garden-herbs , vegetables . See on Mar 4:...

Herbs ( λάχανα )

From λαχαίνω to dig . Herbs grown on land cultivated by digging: garden-herbs , vegetables . See on Mar 4:32; see on Luk 12:42.

Wesley: Rom 14:2 - -- All sorts of food, though forbidden by the law.

All sorts of food, though forbidden by the law.

JFB: Rom 14:2 - -- See Act 10:16.

See Act 10:16.

JFB: Rom 14:2 - -- Restricting himself probably to a vegetable diet, for fear of eating what might have been offered to idols, and so would be unclean. (See 1Co 8:1-13).

Restricting himself probably to a vegetable diet, for fear of eating what might have been offered to idols, and so would be unclean. (See 1Co 8:1-13).

Clarke: Rom 14:2 - -- One believeth that he may eat all things - He believes that whatsoever is wholesome and nourishing, whether herbs or flesh - whether enjoined or for...

One believeth that he may eat all things - He believes that whatsoever is wholesome and nourishing, whether herbs or flesh - whether enjoined or forbidden by the Mosaic law - may be safely and conscientiously used by every Christian

Clarke: Rom 14:2 - -- Another, who is weak, eateth herbs - Certain Jews, lately converted to the Christian faith, and having as yet little knowledge of its doctrines, bel...

Another, who is weak, eateth herbs - Certain Jews, lately converted to the Christian faith, and having as yet little knowledge of its doctrines, believe the Mosaic law relative to clean and unclean meats to be still in force; and therefore, when they are in a Gentile country, for fear of being defiled, avoid flesh entirely and live on vegetables. And a Jew when in a heathen country acts thus, because he cannot tell whether the flesh which is sold in the market may be of a clean or unclean beast; whether it may not have been offered to an idol; or whether the blood may have been taken properly from it.

Calvin: Rom 14:2 - -- 2.Let him who believes, etc What [Erasmus] has followed among the various readings I know not; but he has mutilated this sentence, which, in Paul’s...

2.Let him who believes, etc What [Erasmus] has followed among the various readings I know not; but he has mutilated this sentence, which, in Paul’s words, is complete; and instead of the relative article he has improperly introduced alius — one, “One indeed believes,” etc. That I take the infinitive for an imperative, ought not to appear unnatural nor strained, for it is a mode of speaking very usual with Paul. 416 He then calls those believers who were endued with a conscience fully satisfied; to these he allowed the use of all things without any difference. In the mean time the weak did eat herbs, and abstained from those things, the use of which he thought was not lawful. If the common version be more approved, the meaning then will be, — that it is not right that he who freely eats all things, as he believes them to be lawful, should require those, who are yet tender and weak in faith, to walk by the same rule. But to render the word sick, as some have done, is absurd.

Defender: Rom 14:2 - -- One particular cause of disagreement in the early church was whether a Christian should purchase and eat meat that previously had been sacrificed to p...

One particular cause of disagreement in the early church was whether a Christian should purchase and eat meat that previously had been sacrificed to pagan gods. This particular problem is one not ordinarily faced by modern Christians, but the principle is the same for all manner of other questionable issues such as smoking, dancing, holidays, dress styles, music genres, etc."

TSK: Rom 14:2 - -- that : Rom 14:14; 1Co 10:25; Gal 2:12; 1Ti 4:4; Tit 1:15; Heb 9:10, Heb 13:9 another : Rom 14:22, Rom 14:23 eateth : Gen 1:29, Gen 9:3; Pro 15:17; Dan...

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Rom 14:2 - -- For one believeth - This was the case with the Gentiles in general, who had none of the scruples of the Jew about the propriety of eating certa...

For one believeth - This was the case with the Gentiles in general, who had none of the scruples of the Jew about the propriety of eating certain kinds of meat. Many of the converts who had been Jews might also have had the same view as the apostle Paul evidently had while the great mass of Jewish converts might have cherished these scruples.

May eat all things - That is, he will not be restrained by any scruples about the lawfulness of certain meats, etc.

Another who is weak - There is reference here, doubt less, to the Jewish convert. The apostle admits that he was "weak,"that is, not fully established in the views of Christian liberty. The question with the Jew doubtless was, whether it was lawful to eat the meat which was offered in sacrifice to idols. In those sacrifices a part only of the animal was offered, and the remainder was eaten by the worshippers, or offered for sale in the market like other meat. It became an inquiry whether it was lawful to eat this meat; and the question in the mind of a Jew would arise from the express command of his Law; Exo 34:15. This question the apostle discussed and settled in 1Co 10:20-32, which see. In that place the general principle is laid down, that it was lawful to partake of that meat as a man would of any other, "unless it was expressly pointed out to him as having been sacrificed to idols, and unless his partaking of it would be considered as countenancing the idolators in their worship;"Rom 14:28. But with this principle many Jewish converts might not have been acquainted; or what is quite as probable, they might not have been disposed to admit its propriety.

Eateth herbs - Herbs or "vegetables"only; does not partake of meat at all, for "fear"of eating that, inadvertently, which had been offered to idols. The Romans abounded in sacrifices to idols; and it would not be easy to be certain that meat which was offered in the market, or on the table of a friend, had not been offered in this manner. To avoid the possibility of partaking of it, even "ignorantly,"they chose to eat no meat at all. The scruples of the Jews on the subject might have arisen in part from the fact that sins of "ignorance"among them subjected them to certain penalties; Lev 4:2-3, etc.; Lev 5:15; Num 15:24, Num 15:27-29. Josephus says (Life, Section 3) that in his time there were certain priests of his acquaintance who "supported themselves with figs and nuts."These priests had been sent to Rome to be tried on some charge before Caesar: and it is probable that they abstained from meat because it might have been offered to idols. It is expressly declared of Daniel when in Babylon, that he lived on pulse and water, that he might not "defile himself with the portion of the king’ s meat, nor with the wine which he drank;"Dan 1:8-16.

Poole: Rom 14:2 - -- One believeth that he may eat all things i.e. one that is informed aright of his Christian liberty, is fully persuaded, and that upon good grounds, t...

One believeth that he may eat all things i.e. one that is informed aright of his Christian liberty, is fully persuaded, and that upon good grounds, that he may eat any thing that is wholesome, though forbidden by the ceremonial law; that there is now no difference of clean and unclean meats: see Mat 15:11 Act 10:12-15 .

Another, who is weak, eateth herbs i.e. he that (as before) is weak in faith, and not so well informed, such a one, for fear of offending God by eating any thing that is forbidden, will rather content himself with the meanest diet. The meaning is not, as if any, in those times, thought it lawful only to eat herbs, and so abstained altogether from other meats; but they would rather satisfy themselves with herbs, and other fruits of the earth, in which the law of Moses made no difference, than eat meats that were forbidden, or not cleansed from blood, or offered to idols, &c.: see Dan 1:8 .

Haydock: Rom 14:2 - -- Eat all things. Viz. without observing the distinction between clean and unclean meats, prescribed by the law of Moses: which was now no longer obli...

Eat all things. Viz. without observing the distinction between clean and unclean meats, prescribed by the law of Moses: which was now no longer obligatory. Some weak Christians, converted from among the Jews, as we here gather from the apostle, made a scruple of eating such meats as were deemed unclean by the law: such as swine's flesh, &c. which the stronger sort of Christians did eat without scruple. Now the apostle, to reconcile them together, exhorts the former not to judge or condemn the latter, using their Christian liberty; and the latter to take care not to despise, or scandalize their weaker brethren, either by bringing them to eat what in their conscience they think they should not: or by giving them such offence, as to endanger the driving them thereby from the Christian religion. (Challoner) ---

For one that is not so weak, but well instructed, believeth, is persuaded, that he may eat all things, the distinction of clean and unclean meats being no longer obligatory under the new law of Christ. He that is weak, and not convinced of this Christian liberty, let him eat herbs, or such things as he esteems not forbidden. It is likely some of them abstained many times from all manner of flesh, lest they should meet with what had been offered to idols, or lest something forbidden by the law might be mixed. (Witham)

Gill: Rom 14:2 - -- For one believeth that he may eat all things,.... He is fully persuaded in his mind, that there is nothing in itself common, or unclean; that the diff...

For one believeth that he may eat all things,.... He is fully persuaded in his mind, that there is nothing in itself common, or unclean; that the difference between clean and unclean meats, commanded to be observed by the law of Moses, is taken away; and that he may now lawfully eat any sort of food; every creature of God being good, and none to be refused, because of the ceremonial law which is abrogated, provided it, be received with thanksgiving, and used to the glory of God:

another who is weak eateth herbs; meaning not one that is sickly and unhealthful, and of a weak constitution, and therefore eats herbs for health's sake; but one that is weak in the faith, and who thinks that the laws concerning the observance of meats and drinks are still in force; and therefore, rather than break any of them, and that he may be sure he does not, will eat nothing but herbs, which are not any of them forbidden by the law: and this he did, either as choosing rather to live altogether on herbs, than to eat anything which the law forbids; or being of opinion with the Essenes among the Jews, and the Pythagoreans among the Gentiles, who thought they were to abstain from eating of all sorts of animals.

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

Geneva Bible: Rom 14:2 ( 2 ) For one ( c ) believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. ( 2 ) He propounds for an example the difference of mea...

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Rom 14:1-23 - --1 Men may not contemn nor condemn one another for things indifferent;13 but take heed that they give no offence in them;15 which the apostle proves un...

MHCC: Rom 14:1-6 - --Differences of opinion prevailed even among the immediate followers of Christ and their disciples. Nor did St. Paul attempt to end them. Compelled ass...

Matthew Henry: Rom 14:1-23 - -- We have in this chapter, I. An account of the unhappy contention which had broken out in the Christian church. Our Master had foretold that offences...

Barclay: Rom 14:2-4 - --Here emerges one of the definite points of debate in the Roman Church. There were those who observed no special food laws and tabus at all, and who ...

Constable: Rom 12:1--15:14 - --VI. THE PRACTICE OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS 12:1--15:13 In contrasting chapters 1-11 with chapters 12-16 of Romans, ...

Constable: Rom 14:1--15:14 - --D. Conduct within Christian liberty 14:1-15:13 Paul moved on to discuss a problem that arises as the ded...

Constable: Rom 14:1-12 - --1. The folly of judging one another 14:1-12 The apostle dealt first with the importance of not judging one another. This was a particular temptation t...

College: Rom 14:1-23 - --II. CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IN MATTERS OF OPINION (14:1-15:13) In this main section (12:1-15:13) the general subject is "living the sanctified life." A Ch...

McGarvey: Rom 14:2 - --One man hath faith [believes he has the liberty or right] to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs . [We are familiar with the universal Je...

expand all
Commentary -- Other

Evidence: Rom 14:2 Vegetarianism. See 1Ti 4:3 footnote.

expand all
Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Romans (Book Introduction) The Epistle to the Romans Spring of a.d. 57 By Way of Introduction Integrity of the Epistle The genuineness of the Epistle is so generally adm...

JFB: Romans (Book Introduction) THE GENUINENESS of the Epistle to the Romans has never been questioned. It has the unbroken testimony of all antiquity, up to CLEMENT OF ROME, the apo...

JFB: Romans (Outline) INTRODUCTION. (Rom. 1:1-17) THE JEW UNDER LIKE CONDEMNATION WITH THE GENTILE. (Rom. 2:1-29) JEWISH OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. (Rom 3:1-8) THAT THE JEW IS S...

TSK: Romans (Book Introduction) The Epistle to the Romans is " a writing," says Dr. Macknight, " which, for sublimity and truth of sentiment, for brevity and strength of expression,...

TSK: Romans 14 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Rom 14:1, Men may not contemn nor condemn one another for things indifferent; Rom 14:13, but take heed that they give no offence in them;...

Poole: Romans 14 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 14

MHCC: Romans (Book Introduction) The scope or design of the apostle in writing to the Romans appears to have been, to answer the unbelieving, and to teach the believing Jew; to confir...

MHCC: Romans 14 (Chapter Introduction) (Rom 14:1-13) The Jewish converts cautioned against judging, and Gentile believers against despising one the other. (Rom 14:14-23) And the Gentiles e...

Matthew Henry: Romans (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans If we may compare scripture with scripture, and take the opinion ...

Matthew Henry: Romans 14 (Chapter Introduction) The apostle having, in the former chapter, directed our conduct one towards another in civil things, and prescribed the sacred laws of justice, pea...

Barclay: Romans (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: Romans 14 (Chapter Introduction) Respect For Scruples (Rom_14:1) Tolerance For Another's Point Of View (Rom_14:2-4) A Different Road To The Same Goal (Rom_14:5-6) The Impossibilit...

Constable: Romans (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Throughout the history of the church, from postapos...

Constable: Romans (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-17 A. Salutation 1:1-7 1. The writer 1:1 ...

Constable: Romans Romans Bibliography Alford, Henry. The Greek Testament. 4 vols. New ed. Cambridge: Rivingtons, 1881. ...

Haydock: Romans (Book Introduction) THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE ROMANS. INTRODUCTION. After the Gospels, which contain the history of Christ, and the Acts of...

Gill: Romans (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS Though this epistle is in order placed the first of the epistles, yet it was not first written: there were several epistles ...

Gill: Romans 14 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 14 The apostle, having finished his exhortations to duties of a moral and civil kind, proceeds to the consideration of thing...

College: Romans (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION I. ROMANS: ITS INFLUENCE AND IMPORTANCE God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Ps 119:105), and no part of it shine...

College: Romans (Outline) VIII. OUTLINE PROLOGUE - 1:1-17 I. EPISTOLARY GREETING - 1:1-7 A. The Author Introduces Himself - 1:1 1. A Slave of Christ Jesus 2. Call...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


TIP #06: On Bible View and Passage View, drag the yellow bar to adjust your screen. [ALL]
created in 0.42 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA