Romans 14:7
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Original Language Analysis
οὐδεὶς
no man
G3762
οὐδεὶς
no man
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
1 of 9
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
γὰρ
For
G1063
γὰρ
For
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ἑαυτῷ
to himself
G1438
ἑαυτῷ
to himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
4 of 9
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 9
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οὐδεὶς
no man
G3762
οὐδεὶς
no man
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
7 of 9
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
Cross References
1 Peter 4:2That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.2 Corinthians 5:15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.1 Thessalonians 5:10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.Romans 14:9For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Historical Context
Written from Corinth (AD 57) to a church torn by Jewish-Gentile tensions over food laws, holy days, and purity regulations. Roman house churches were small (20-40 people) meeting in close quarters where one person's practices directly affected others. The cultural context was highly collectivist—Roman patronage systems, Jewish covenant community, and Greco-Roman household codes all emphasized group identity over individualism. Paul's argument would have resonated naturally with his original audience.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing that you 'live not to yourself' challenge Western individualistic Christianity?
- In what specific ways do your daily choices (diet, entertainment, speech) affect other believers in your community?
- How should corporate solidarity shape disputable matters like alcohol consumption, entertainment choices, or political activism?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself—The Greek οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἑαυτῷ ζῇ (oudeis gar hēmōn heautō zē) emphasizes complete corporate solidarity in Christ. Paul uses the strong double negative to obliterate radical individualism: believers exist in mutual interdependence. The parallel construction (living/dying) spans all of existence—every moment belongs to the community, not autonomous self.
This verse demolishes the false dichotomy between 'personal faith' and 'corporate Christianity.' The dative ἑαυτῷ (heautō, 'to himself') shows that self-referential existence is impossible for those in Christ's body. Even death—the most solitary human experience—is a corporate event affecting the whole church. Paul grounds his argument about disputable matters (ch. 14) in this ontological reality: your dietary choices, Sabbath observance, and conscience decisions impact the entire body because you don't exist as an isolated unit.