Romans 14:22
in Romans 14Keep your belief about such matters between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.
KJV
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
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This verse in Romans 14
Commentary
13 notes on this verseHast thou faith? - The term faith seems to signify in this place a full persuasion in a man’s mind that he is right, that what he does is lawful, and has the approbation of God and his conscience.
This site's exposition
between yourself and God
on Romans 14:22-23
A settled conviction is kept between the believer and God, out of the weaker brother's hearing. The man who eats while he doubts is condemned by his own conscience, having acted past what he believes God allows. Whatever is not from faith is sin.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
This should be read in connection with [verse 16] above.… Let us make good use of what we have, lest we sin against our brothers by creating a stumbling block for the weaker ones. For when we offend the weak we condemn ourselves by the very good by which we approve ourselves when this faith pleases us.
This means that if you are happy to eat because you know that everything God made is good, there is no need to judge anyone else. Rather, you should be at peace with your brother, for this is what God wants.
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
After these things he says: The faith which you have, have it with yourself before God. He here calls "faith" that by which one believes that he may eat all things, just as he said above: One believes that he may eat all things — that man, without doubt, who believes that among God's creatures nothing is common, nothing unclean.
Here he seems to me to be giving a gentle warning to the more advanced on the score of vanity. And what he says is this, Dost thou wish to show me that thou art perfect, and fully furnished? Do not show it to me, but let thy conscience suffice. And by faith, he here means that concerned not with doctrines, but with the subject in hand. For of the former it says, "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Rom. x. 10); and, "Whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny." (Luke ix. 26.) For the former by not being confessed, ruins us; and so does this by being confessed unseasonably. "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the thing which he alloweth." Again he strikes at the weaker one, and gives him (i.e. the stronger) a sufficient crown, in that of his conscience. Even if no man see, that is, thou art able to be happy in thyself. For after saying, "Have it to thyself," to prevent his thinking this a contemptible tribunal, he tells him this is better to thee than the world. And if all accuse thee, and thou condemn not thyself, and thy conscience lay no charge against thee, thou art happy. But this is a statement he did not make to apply to any person whatever. For there are many that condemn not themselves, and yet are great transgressors: and these are the most miserable of men. But he still keeps to the subject in hand.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Here he secretly hints that the mature one was displaying his maturity out of vainglory. He says: you want to show me that you are mature in faith regarding food, believing that everything is good and clean? Do not show me, but be content with …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Third, he rejects an excuse. For someone might say: although my neighbor may be scandalized at my eating all foods indiscriminately, yet to profess my faith, which tells me that it is lawful, I will use food indiscriminately. But the Apostle rejects this reasoning, saying: …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Hast thou faith - That all things are pure? Have it to thyself before God - In circumstances like these, keep it to thyself, and do not offend others by it. Happy is he that condemneth not himself - By an improper use of even innocent things! and happy he who is free from a doubting conscience!
Though men condemn us, it is well enough if our own hearts condemn us not, 1 John iii. Another rule here prescribed is to those who are clear in these matters, and know their Christian liberty, yet to take heed of using it so as to give offence to a weak brother.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Hast thou faith--on such matters? have it to thyself--within thine own breast before God--a most important clause. It is not mere sincerity, or a private opinion, of which the apostle speaks; it is conviction as to what is the truth and will of God.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Hast thou faith? - The word “faith” here refers only to the subject under discussion - to the subject of meats, drinks, etc. Do you believe that it is right to eat all kinds of food, etc. The apostle had admitted that this was the true doctrine; but he maintains that it should be so held as not to give offence. Have it to thyself - Do not obtrude your faith or opinion on others. Be satisfied with cherishing the opinion, and acting on it in private, without bringing it forward to produce disturbance in the church. Before God - Where God only is the witness. God sees your sincerity, and will approve your opinion. That opinion cherish and act on, yet so as not to give offence, and to produce disturbance in the church. God sees your sincerity; he sees that you are right; and you will not offend him. Your brethren do “not” see that you are right, and they will be offended. Happy is he ... - This state of mind, the apostle says, is one that is attended with peace and happiness; and this is a “further” reason why they should indulge their opinion in private, without obtruding it on others. They were conscious of doing right, and that consciousness was attended with peace. This fact he states in the form of a universal proposition, as applicable not only to “this” case, but to “all” cases; compare 1Jn 3:21. Condemneth not himself - Whose conscience does not reprove him. In that which he alloweth - Which he “approves,” or which he “does.” Who has a clear conscience in his opinions and conduct. Many people indulge in practices which their consciences condemn, many in practices of which they are in doubt. But the way to be happy is to have a “clear conscience” in what we do; or in other words, if we have “doubts” about a course of conduct, it is not safe to indulge in that course, but it should be at once abandoned. […]
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| σὺ | su | You yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πίστιν | pistin | [the] faith | G4102 → | 242 times |
| ἣν | hen | that | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔχεις | echeis | you have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| κατὰ | kata | to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| σεαυτὸν | seauton | yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἔχε | eche | do keep | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἐνώπιον | enopion | before | G1799 → | 94 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ· | theou | God; | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| μακάριος | makarios | Blessed [is] | G3107 → | 50 times |
| ὁ | ho | the [one] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| κρίνων | krinon | judging | G2919 → | 114 times |
| ἑαυτὸν | he'auton | himself | G1438 → | 322 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| δοκιμάζει. | dokimazei | he approves. | G1381 → | 22 times |
σὺYou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
πίστιν[the] faith
pistinG4102 →242 times
ἣνthat
henG3739 →1405 times
ἔχειςyou have
echeisG2192 →707 times
κατὰto
kataG2596 →468 times
σεαυτὸνyourself
seautonG4771 →2973 times
ἔχεdo keep
echeG2192 →707 times
ἐνώπιονbefore
enopionG1799 →94 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ·God;
theouG2316 →1312 times
μακάριοςBlessed [is]
makariosG3107 →50 times
ὁthe [one]
hoG3588 →19766 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
κρίνωνjudging
krinonG2919 →114 times
ἑαυτὸνhimself
he'autonG1438 →322 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧwhat
hoG3739 →1405 times
δοκιμάζει.he approves.
dokimazeiG1381 →22 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 6:1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
it leads to
- Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- 2 Timothy 2:25
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:15
Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
- James 5:19–20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
- 1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads…
- Romans 15:1
Through
James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:23
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Galatians 5:23
Where this verse is studied
About Romans
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Augustine of Hippo, AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 81; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 26; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Robert Haldane, Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.