ROMANS 14

An Outline and Some Comments

by Richard C Condon

Outline

Two kinds of believers:

The characteristics of these two classes of believers:

The reaction of each class to the other:

Paul's advise to both classes:

Commentary

v. 12) You don't have authority over your brother. - We are each responsible to our own Lord, and to Him alone. We will all be judged for our conduct, per se, and as it impacts others.

(v. 15-16) Within this context, the stronger brother is warned about being judged; NOT for eating meat; NOT for drinking wine; NOT for disregarding days; but for harming his brother (if, in a given specific situation, he does harm his brother).

(v. 17) The kingdom of God is not concerned with food and drink (or with days - Col 2). To make such things areas of major concern, or a tenant of faith, or a condition of fellowship, violates this principle. It trivializes the gospel. As such it bears similarities to Pharaisaical legalism and pagan superstition.

(v. 20) All things are pure! This is the Word of God for today. It was true coming from the pen of Paul. It is true also today. But all believers do not possess this knowledge (this faith, v. 22). Those who do may be called upon to modify their conduct for the sake of those weak in the faith (v. 1).

v.21) This is a true statement, but falls far short of a command. It's not even a suggestion; it is a statement of fact, that it is good for us to do nothing which will harm our weaker brother. It is a general principle, for each to apply on his own.

(v22-23) This weak brother cannot eat meat, doesn't drink wine, observes days, because he lacks faith, faith in God's Word. How does one get faith??? Or is such one expected to remain a weak brother all of his life???

Paul clearly alligns himself with the strong in (or possessor of) faith (v. 14). But he also does acknowledge the sensitivity of "the weak brother" (v. 14), and insists on treating him with love (v. 15).

The greater responsibility belongs to the STRONG brother - because he is free to "do or not do" whatever behaviour is in question, he is to defer in a given situation to a weaker brother.

But the weaker brother is still told not to judge the strong brother - this command would not be necessary if Paul were telling all such "strong brothers" to forever, and in all situations, conform their conduct to the qualms of their weaker brothers.

However Paul nowhere makes the qualms of the weaker brother the standard of the church. The principle Paul gives is one which is the responsibility of each to follow in various situations. Paul does not lay down a law to be universally followed - reducing the conduct of christians to the lowest level of sensitivity among all believers. If that were Pauls intention, not only would he be saying that christians should never drink wine, but he would also be saying that christians should never eat meat, christians should regard certain things as unclean (and they would have to agree on the same things), and all christians should observe days (and of necessity - the same days). He isn't saying any such thing. He is giving principles - which each of us should apply if and when they are necessary. Different situations will call for different actions. This is what responsible christian living is all about - not a Pharisaic legalism, which depends on external conduct, physical rituals, and man-made commands which make void the word of God.

What is the object of receiving a weaker brother? What is the object of bearing the weaknesses of the weaker brother? Obviously that he (and we all) may mature in faith, in the things of God and the knowledge of Scripture.

Where did he get his qualms? From God, from Scripture? Absolutely NOT! Scripture declares all foods to be able to be received. Forbidding certain foods is not of God, but demonic, ascetic, pagan. (1 Tim 4; Col 2). Observing days (either Jewish, or pagan) was something Paul condemned (Col 2; Gal ). Paul here said that nothing is unclean of itself. Paul condemned asceticism ("touch not, taste not, handle not, Col 2). Jesus said that nothing physical entering our body defiles us.

It is clear therefore that the qualms of these weaker brothers are not godly habits which Paul wants the church to adopt. The purpose of the stronger brother deferring in the presence of a weaker brother to that brother's qualm, is not for the purpose of validating that qualm, or adopting it as normal christian conduct, but simply not wanting to offend a weak, and presumably new brother, and to give him the time to grow. It agrees with Paul's habit of becoming all things to all men to win some.

And while applying these principles, and living in fellowship with each other, the strong with the weak, it is the goal of the christian life to be conformed to Christ, i.e. to have his conduct reflect Scriptural precepts. Our conduct is to be regulated by the Scriptures, the only Word of God. Not feelings, not church tradition, not church councils, not popular culture, not pagan philosophy, not contemporary social issues. The Scriptures alone are sufficient to declare God's will for His people. The weak brother should "grow up", leaving his immature ideas and philosophy, and "put on Christ", of Whom our only source of knowledge is Scripture. Therefore our knowledge of what is right and wrong, and what is worldly, must come from Scripture alone.