Romans 14 7

Romans 14:7 kjv

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Romans 14:7 nkjv

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

Romans 14:7 niv

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.

Romans 14:7 esv

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.

Romans 14:7 nlt

For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves.

Romans 14 verses

Romans 14 7 Meaning

No one lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. The singular action of a believer has eternal significance, affecting both the individual and the community. All actions are ultimately related to God and the body of Christ.

Romans 14 7 Context

This verse is part of Paul's discussion in Romans 14 and 15 about how believers with differing convictions, particularly concerning matters of diet and observance of certain days, should treat one another in the church. The "strong" were those who felt free to eat anything, while the "weak" abstained from certain foods and observed specific days due to their previous religious background (likely Jewish heritage). Paul's argument throughout this chapter is that while individual freedom in Christ is real, it must be exercised within the framework of love and consideration for weaker brethren, ensuring that one's actions do not cause another to stumble or doubt. This verse establishes the foundational principle for that discussion: believers are not isolated individuals but are profoundly interconnected.

Romans 14 7 Word Analysis

• "For" (γὰρ - gar): A conjunction indicating a reason or explanation for the preceding or following statement. It links the idea of accepting one another (v. 3, 6) to a shared reality of existence for believers.
• "none" (οὐδεὶς - oudeis): Literally "not even one." Emphasizes totality, that this principle applies to every single believer without exception.
• "of us" (ἡμῶν - hēmōn): Pronoun of the first person plural, referring to believers, the community of faith, "we."
• "lives" (ζῇ - zē): Present tense verb, indicating continuous, ongoing existence. Life itself is understood not as purely biological, but as living in relation to God and others.
• "to himself" (ἑαυτῷ - heautō): Dative reflexive pronoun. Points to self-sufficiency or acting solely for one's own benefit and purposes.
• "alone" (μόνος - monos): Adjective meaning single, sole. Reinforces the idea of isolation and self-centeredness.
• "and" (καὶ - kai): Connective conjunction.
• "dies" (ἀποθνῄσκει - apothnēskei): Present tense verb. Refers to the act of dying. Even this ultimate personal event is not an isolated incident for a believer.
• "to himself" (ἑαυτῷ - heautō): Again, referring to dying for one's own sake, out of self-will or self-determination separate from God's will.
• "alone" (μόνος - monos): Repeats for emphasis on isolation.

Words Group Analysis

• "none of us lives to himself alone": This phrase speaks against absolute personal autonomy. Believers are united in Christ, and their life's purpose and daily activities are to be lived in dependence on and dedication to God and His community. Their "living" is tied to God's purpose for them.
• "and none of us dies to himself alone": This highlights the impact of a believer's death. It is not just a private cessation of life, but an event that resonates within the body of Christ and has eternal significance before God. Even in death, the believer belongs to God and the community. This contrasts with pagan ideas of individual afterlife journeys.

Romans 14 7 Bonus Section

This verse undergirds the Christian understanding of corporate responsibility and the concept of the "body of Christ" (1 Cor 12:12-27). The spiritual unity experienced in Christ means that no member can truly exist or act in total isolation. This communal dimension contrasts sharply with many individualistic philosophies. The implications extend to both spiritual and physical aspects of life and death. Furthermore, the resurrection hope for believers (1 Thess 4:13-18) ensures that even death is not an end but a transition that affects the entire redeemed community in some way, even if it's simply through the testimony and remembrance left behind. The verse implicitly rejects the idea of a strictly secular or private life; all of life for a Christian is lived under the Lordship of Christ.

Romans 14 7 Commentary

The verse emphasizes the profound interconnectedness of believers. Life and death are not entirely personal or self-contained experiences for Christians. Because believers are united to Christ, their actions, whether perceived as great or small, and their ultimate passing from this life have implications that extend beyond themselves. This reality is the basis for Paul's exhortation to mutual consideration and to avoid causing offense to a brother or sister in Christ. We live in service to God and one another; we die as God's own, often impacting the spiritual state and grief or hope of fellow believers. Our identity is found not in isolation, but in our belonging to Christ and His body.

• Think about how your daily choices, like what food to eat or how you spend your free time, affect others around you, especially fellow believers.
• Consider how even private decisions can have public spiritual consequences within the church community.