Romans 14:16

Romans 14:16

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

a. ASV: Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

  

b. YLT: Let not, then, your good be evil spoken of,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.]

1.  “Let not then your good be evil spoken of:”

a. [Let] not [Strong: 3361 mḗ, may; a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:—any but (that), × forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

b. then [Strong:  3767 oûn, oon; apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:—and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.]

c. your [Strong: 5216 hymōn, hoo-mone'; genitive case of G5210; of (from or concerning) you:—ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

d. good [Strong: 18 agathós, ag-ath-os'; a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):—benefit, good(-s, things), well.]

1). “Good” here means engaging in something that your relationship with Christ allows you to participate in, but with others would be offensive. Things that in themselves would not be sin. At the time of Paul’s writing this it would mainly be concerning the different things between Gentile and Jewish ceremonial issues that were done away in Christ, but it is written in such a way it would incorporate many things down through the centuries. I think the drinking of alcoholic beverages would fall into this. In fact it is actually mentioned 5 verses later.

a). Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

b). I think the wisdom behind this is if you do not have a problem with having an occasional beer or glass of wine, that is between you and God. It is a different story though if you from the pulpit or any proverbial soapbox, social media, brag about your favorite wine where other believers, referred to as “weak” (Romans 14:1), would be highly offended. The individual who does have an occasional beer or glass of wine should not be judged by the believer who does not, but the believer who does engage in such things should not throw it in the face of the believer who is offended by such things.   

e.  [be] evil spoken of [Strong: 987 blasphēméō, blas-fay-meh'-o; from G989; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously:—(speak) blaspheme(-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.]