Romans 14:23

Doubteth. Or, “debates within himself.” Compare the description of the double-minded man (James 1:6; cf. Matt. 21:21; Mark 11:23; Rom. 4:20).

Is damned. Gr. katakrino, “to condemn.” The man who eats, in spite of the doubts of his conscience, is condemned.

Faith. Here referring to a conviction of right and wrong, resulting in the determination to do whatever is believed to be God’s will. Paul’s meaning is that if a Christian does not act from strong personal conviction that what he does is right, but, instead, complies weakly with the judgment of others, then his action is sinful. The Christian should never violate his conscience. It may require educating. It may tell him that certain things are wrong that in themselves may not be wrong. But until convinced by the Word and the Spirit of God that a certain course is proper for him, he ought not to pursue it. He must not make others the criterion for his conduct; he must go to the Scriptures and learn for himself his duty in the matter (see 2T 119-124).