Romans 14:23 - Exposition

But he that doubteth (or, wavereth ) is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. For sense of διακρίνεσθαι , cf. Romans 4:20 ; Matthew 21:21 ; Mark 11:23 ; James 1:6 . Faith here denotes an assured belief that what one does is right; nor is it necessary to give the word a wider or different sense in the concluding clause ( ταῦτα δὲ πάντα περὶ τῆς προκειμένης ὑποθεσεως εἴρηται τῷ παῦλῳ οὔ περὶ πάντων , Chrysostom). Hence to see in it (as has been done) the doctrine of the sinfulness of all works done apart from faith in Christ is to introduce an idea that is not there.