“Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. — Pistis (faith, conviction) hēn echeis pros seauton echē (keep to yourself before God) acknowledges that conscience is God's domain. Makarios (blessed, happy) the one who doesn't condemn himself through his own dokimazo (approval, testing). Self-judgment can paralyze; freedom to own conviction before God liberates.
Church Fathers on Romans 14:22
“Have you faith? Have it to yourself.” 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, Do you wish to show me that you are perfect, and fully furnished? Do not show it to me, but let your 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” Romans 10:10; and,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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