Daniel's Literal Translation and Commentary
The Renewed Covenant by Daniel Gregg
"Romans 14:14 I know and have been persuaded in Adonai Yeshua that nothing is profane by itself—except to one who counts anything profane to be. To that one it is profane" (DLT: torahtimes.org).
by itself : δι εαυτου. Paul adds some curious words here, "by itself". Now we know the Apostles allowed the dispersion Gentiles to compromise on circumcision, because God had allowed Israel to remain uncircumcised for a time in the wilderness, but when they entered the land, he required it of them. Likewise, on the mission field, new converts may not be taught about Kosher laws, and in fact, if they are hunter gatherers in the jungle, it may take a generation of transformation to an agrarian basis to even make it possible for them to consider Kosher. Paul is not saying that pig is clean. Pig is always unclean. What he is saying is that if one has to eat pig, and does not know the law, or does not acknowledge it as unclean, then eating it does not defile the conscience. It only defiles the conscience of the person who knows that it is unclean, but who decides to go against knowledge of God's law. The Spirit allows such minor compromises for a time without ruining the faith of the believer. Probably there were some bad theologies running around in Rome that justified the compromise. If someone is deceived by a bad theology, then they can't defile their conscience by a willful transgression. On the other hand, bad theologies lead to more evil than having the correct teaching from the Torah. When the Kingdom is restored, Righteousness and Peace with reign.
Why does Paul say "by itself". Things not kosher are unclean, but they are not spiritual defiling by their very nature, i.e. "by itself". They are only spiritually defiling when consumed in the knowledge that one is violating a commandment, or in the knowledge that one is violating a commandment that they are now able to keep and should keep. Yes, there is a time and place for minor compromises. God overlooked a lot of things for the sake of the more important. He overlooked David's many wives. He even told David he would have given him more if it would have kept him from murder and adultery. Elijah overlooked Namaan's having to help the king down in front of the king's idol.
In one situation killing is murder, and in another its just war. In one situation eating the bread of the presence is prohibited. In another it is merciful to allow it.
God wants his people to concentrate on what is important, yet he wants them to be open to learning His Torah. The only reason that we have to argue about these points is that lawless heretics have entered the congregation of Israel, and are now exploiting these permitted compromises to make them into an argument for the setting aside of the Torah. But allowed compromise the Torah does not set aside. One who knows it is a compromise still confirms the the words of the Torah. And to exploit the merciful forbearance of God into a license for lawlessness is a slap in his face.
In the age to come the people will be taught to distinguish between the clean and unclean, and the holy and unholy (Ezekiel 44:23). This does not mean one has to compromise at all on Kosher. One can keep just as strict as he likes. Paul just wants to keep us from jumping to the conclusion that our brother who does not keep Kosher at some point is fallen from the faith and under condemnation.
And I don't mean people who once knew the truth and abandoned it. I mean people who are just ignorant or in a compromised culture. However, we must be wise as serpents because there are many who are fundamentally lawless in their doctrine and in their lawless version of the gospel who have a form of godliness, but who will never acknowledge the truth on any point no matter how small and how often you point it out to them. These are the one's whose conscience has been seared by the mystery of iniquity. If one is a true believer then we should be able to see them being brought into conformity with God's Word—not fighting for the enemy and running away from truth. (DLC: torahtimes.org)
Daniel's Literal Translation and Commentary: (http://www.torahtimes.org/translation/rom1414.html)
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