Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Romans: Chapter 14].
knowledge on this point. {Destroy not} (\m• apollue\). Present
active imperative of \apollu•\, the very argument made in 1Co
8:10f. {With thy meat} (\t•i br•mati sou\). Instrumental case,
"with thy food." It is too great a price to pay for personal
liberty as to food.
14:16 {Your good} (\hum•n to agathon\). "The good thing of you" =
the liberty or Christian freedom which you claim. {Be evil spoken
of} (\blasph•meisth•\). Present passive imperative of
\blasph•me•\ for which see Mt 9:3; Ro 3:8.
14:17 {The kingdom of God} (\h• basileia tou theou\). Not the
future kingdom of eschatology, but the present spiritual kingdom,
the reign of God in the heart, of which Jesus spoke so often. See
1Co 4:21. Paul scores heavily here, for it is not found in
externals like food and drink, but in spiritual qualities and
graces.
14:18 {Herein} (\en tout•i\). "On the principle implied by these
virtues" (Sanday and Headlam). {Approved of men} (\dokimos tois
anthr•pois\). "Acceptable to men." Stands the test for men. See
1Co 11:19; 2Co 10:18; 2Ti 2:15.
14:19 {So then} (\ara oun\). Two inferential particles,
"accordingly therefore." {Let us follow after} (\di•k•men\).
Present active subjunctive (volitive). "Let us pursue." Some MSS.
have present indicative, "we pursue." {The things which make for
peace} (\ta t•s eir•n•s\). "The things of peace," literally,
genitive case. So "the things of edification for one another"
(\ta t•s oikodom•s t•s eis all•lous\).
14:20 {Overthrow not} (\m• katalue\). "Destroy not," "do not
loosen down" (carrying on the metaphor in \oikodom•\, building).
{The work of God} (\to ergon tou theou\). The brother for whom
Christ died, verse 15. Perhaps with a side-glance at Esau and
his mess of pottage. {But it is evil} (\alla kakon\). Paul
changes from the plural \koina\ to the singular \kakon\. {With
offence} (\dia proskommatos\). "With a stumbling-block" as in
verse 13. This use of \dia\ (accompaniment) is common. So then
it is addressed to the "strong" brother not to cause a
stumbling-block by the way he eats and exercises his freedom.
14:21 {Not to eat} (\to m• phagein\). "The not eating." Articular
infinitive (second aorist active of \esthi•\) and subject of
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