Romans 14:19-21 - Exposition

Let us therefore follow after the things that make for (literally, the things of ) peace, and the things wherewith one may edify another (literally, the things of the edification of one another ) . For meat's sake destroy not the work of God. "Destroy," or rather, overthrow— the word is κατάλυε , not ἀππόλλυε as in Romans 14:15 —is connected in thought with the edification, or building up ( οἰκοδομήν ) before spoken of. "The work of God" is that of his grace in the weak Christian's soul, growing, it may be, to full assurance of faith (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9 ," ye are God's building"). Upset not the rising structure, which is God's own, as ye may do by putting a stumbling-block in the weak brother's way. All things indeed are pure ( i.e. in themselves all God's gifts given for man's service are so); but it is evil to that man who eateth with offence ( i.e. if the eating be to himself a stumbling-block. The idea is the same as in Romans 14:14 ). It is good ( καλὸν , not of indispensable obligation, but a right and noble thing to do) neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth , or is offended, or is made weak. The concluding words in italics are of doubtful authority: they are not required for the sense. For St. Paul's expression of his own readiness to deny himself lawful things, if he might so avoid offence to weak brethren, cf. 1 Corinthians 8:13 .