Tear down (2647)(kataluo from kata = down, prefix intensifying verb luo = loosen, dissolve, demolish, untie, undo) means literally to loosen down (unloose) and then to utterly destroy or to overthrow completely. To throw down (as the stones of the Temple - see below). To abrogate or abolish by authoritative action, treating as non-existent. Thayer says "metaphorically, to overthrow, i.e. to render vain, to deprive of success, to bring to naught". Kataluo is used literally of destroying, demolishing or dismantling an edifice (even brick by brick) To take apart. (Mt 24:2, 26:61, 27:40, Mk 13:2, Acts 6:14) Kataluo is used as a figure of speech to describe death as pictured by one tearing down ("folding up") an "earthly tent" (where "tent" is a metaphor for our earthly body - see 2Co 5:1 - see slightly different verb analusis with similar idea in 2Ti 4:6-note). Paul uses kataluo to describe the belief that one is saved solely by grace through faith and not law keeping (Gal 2:18). Kataluo is used to signify the end of the effect of something. To deprive of force, to abrogate ("the Law or the Prophets" in Mt 5:17-note). To come to naught. Kataluo is used to describe cessation of what one is doing. BDAG has "unharness the pack animals", and so rest, put up for the night or find lodging (Lk 9:12, 19:7, Lxx =- Ge 19:2, 24:23, 25, camped = Ge 26:17, lodging place = Ge 42:27, 43:21 ("inn" = Ge 43:21KJV], Nu 22:8KJV, Nu 25:1 = "remained", a "rest" that cost Israel dearly!; Josh 2:1, 3:1). Vine adds that kataluo "signifies to unloose (kata =down, luo = to loose), unyoke, as of horses, etc., hence intransitively, to take up one’s quarters, to lodge." Kataluo was used a ruler who was deposed ("the ruler of this age is deposed"). Liddell Scott adds that kataluo was used of governments, to dissolve, break up, put down...to dissolve, dismiss, disband a body...to neglect the watch... to end, bring to an end...to break the peace...to unloose, unyoke, to take it down from the wall...to take up one's quarters, to lodge, (he is my guest)... to go and lodge with him... to take one's rest (may I take my rest in the grave) As kataluo is used here in Romans 14, it presents a vivid picture of the potential effect of failing to heed Paul's warnings that relate to interactions between strong and weaker brethren in Christ ("of the marring of a person’s spiritual well—being" - W E Vine). One wonders if the modern church truly realizes how serious and how destructive this issue can be in a local body. To help see the "intensity" of the Greek verb "kataluo" see uses in Mt 24:2, Acts 5:38) W E Vine... The verb kataluo, “to overthrow,” literally means “to loosen down.” Here (in Ro 14:20) it is used of the marring of spiritual well-being, the pulling down of the work of God in a brother’s life, and is set in contrast to building up (Ro 14:19). The phrase “the work of God” suggests both the individual believer as constituting a part of God’s spiritual building, and the effects in him of the spiritual teaching by which the building proceeds. Cp. 1Co 3:17. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) I like how John MacArthur pictures it... We would consider it an appalling crime for someone to deface a Rembrandt painting, to shatter a sculpture by Michelangelo, or to smash a Stradivarius violin. How infinitely worse it is to tear down a work of God, a man “for whom Christ died” (Ro 14:15-note). (MacArthur, J: Romans 9-16. Chicago: Moody Press or Logos or Wordsearch) Kataluo - 17x in 16 verses. NAS renders kataluo = abolish(2), destroy(5), destroyed(1), find lodging(1), guest(1), overthrow(1), overthrown(1), tear down(1), torn down(4). Compare the related derivative kataluma (Mk 14:14 Lk 2:7 22:11) the picture being that of the traveler "loosening" their belt and sandals as well as unharnessing their animals. The antonym akatalutos describes that which cannot be dissolved, figuratively referring to the character of the life of Christ (Heb 7:16-note). Compare kataluo to apollumi which also means to destroy. Matthew 5:17-note "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. Vine - The Lord Jesus declared that He came “not to destroy [kataluo] the law,” Matthew 5:17, that is to say, not to lower the standard of divine righteousness, not to abrogate the least of God’s requirements, but, on the contrary, in His own life to “magnify the law and make it honorable,” Isaiah 42:21. Here a general principle is stated; “those things” = any things, but the particular application in this case, as the context plainly shows, is to the use of the law as a means of justification. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Matthew 24:2 And He said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down." Matthew 26:61 and said, "This man stated, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.'" Matthew 27:40 and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross." Mark 13:2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down." Wuest say that Kataluo - speaks of a gradual demolition of the Temple, such as took place when the Romans captured Jerusalem AD70, and destroyed the Temple. Our Lord’s prediction was fulfilled in exact detail. Only the foundation stones remain of all that magnificence. A double negative appears twice in our Lord’s answer, making an emphatic negation. A T Robertson - Jesus fully recognizes their greatness and beauty. The more remarkable will be their complete demolition (kataluthÄ"i), loosened down. Only the foundation stones remain. Vincent - Thrown down (kataluo). Rather, loosened down. A very graphic word, implying gradual demolition. Mark 14:58 "We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'" Mark 15:29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, Luke 9:12 Now the day was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, "Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place." Luke 19:7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." Luke 21:6 "As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down." Acts 5:38 "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." Acts 6:14 for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." Romans 14:20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down ("folded up" = New Jerusalem Bible), we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Galatians 2:18 "For if I rebuild (return to "law keeping") what I have once destroyed (the belief that one could be saved by keeping the law), I prove myself to be a transgressor. Marvin Vincent: Peter, by his Christian profession, had asserted that justification was by faith alone; and by his eating with Gentiles had declared that the Mosaic law was no longer binding upon him. He had thus, figuratively, destroyed or pulled down the Jewish law as a standard of Christian faith and conduct. By his subsequent refusal to eat with Gentiles he had retracted this declaration, had asserted that the Jewish law was still binding upon Christians, and had thus built again what he had pulled down. Building and pulling down are favorite figures with Paul. (Word Studies in the New Testament 4:106) Kataluo - in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) - Gen 19:2; 24:23, 25; 26:17; 42:27; 43:21; Num 22:8; 25:1; Josh 2:1; 3:1; Ruth 4:14; 2Sa 17:8; 1 Kgs 19:9; 2 Chr 23:8; Ezra 5:12; Ps 8:2; 89:44; Isa 38:12; Jer 5:7; 7:34; 16:9; 25:24; 37:13; 38:22; 49:16, 31; 51:43; Lam 5:15; Ezek 16:8; 21:30; 23:17; 26:13, 17; Zeph 2:7; Zech 5:4. Most of the Lxx uses of kataluo in the Pentateuch refer to the idea of lodging, but below are a few other representative uses. Ruth 4:14-note Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left (Hebrew = shabath = cause to cease, put an end; Lxx = kataluo) you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. Ezra 5:12 'But because our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, He gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed (Lxx = kataluo) this temple and deported the people to Babylon. NET Psalm 8:2 From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to (Lxx = kataluo) the vindictive enemy. Psalm 89:44 You have made his splendor to cease And cast his throne to the ground. Jeremiah 7:34 "Then I will make to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land will become a ruin. Lamentations 5:15 The joy of our hearts has ceased; Our dancing has been turned into mourning. Ezekiel 26:13 (KJV) And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard. In context, what is the "work of God"? The work would seem to the man or woman saved by grace through faith -- our fellow believers who have been redeemed by the Father, Son, and Spirit, for Paul explains For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10-note) Vincent on work of God... The Christian brother, whose Christian personality is God’s work. See 2Co 5:17-note; Eph 2:10-note; Jas 1:18-note. Paul had just discussed peace and the building up of one another. Instead of building up one another they were tearing down one another (Wuest "the Christian character and testimony of a brother Christian") and Paul says to stop destroying the work of God over non-essential issues like your right to eat whatever you'd like to eat. The stronger brother was tearing down the spiritual well-being of the weaker brother rather than building him up (cp Eph 4:29, Acts 20:32). Ray Stedman writes that... Peace is the work of God. Nothing can produce lasting peace among people, especially those of different cultural backgrounds, except the work of God. It is the Spirit of God who produces peace. So, if for the sake of some right that you have, some liberty you feel, you destroy that peace, you are destroying what God has brought about. Do not do that. It is not worth it. ALL THINGS INDEED ARE CLEAN: panta men kathara: (Ro 14:14 Mt 15:11 Acts 10:15 1Ti 4:3, 4, 5 Titus 1:15) Clean (2513) (katharos) means free from anything that spoils or corrupts.