Read or listen the Epistle to the Romans chapter 14 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

The strong and the weak

The keywords of this chapter are "strong" and "weak" Christians. The difference between the "strong" and the "weak" was seen in two matters in particular: first, in the consumption of meat (and wine, verse 21) and in observing certain feast days. The "strong" ate meat and did not observe the feast days that the "weak" wanted to observe.

Why had such a difference arisen? Did it only apply to the church in Rome, or were there similar groups in other churches of that time as well? Paul deals with very similar kinds of problems in 1 Cor. 8-10, so there was a wider problem.

There may have been several reasons for not eating meat:

1. They did not want to eat meat, because the animal had not been slaughtered according to the Jewish method (the blood had to be drained from the animals as thoroughly as possible, Lev. 17:10-17).

2. Among the Gentiles, there were those who abstained from all meat eating for ideological reasons.

3. The meat that was sold in the meat market often came from idol temples, where only part of the animal was sacrificed, and the rest was sold. Some Christians (cf. 1 Cor. 8) considered that eating meat like that was, at the same time, participating in idolatry.

As to the observance of the holiday calendar, the question must have been mainly about Jewish holidays. Paul would have undoubtedly condemned participation in pagan celebrations more harshly. Some researchers think that the question was whether the Sabbath or the first day of the week, i.e. the day of resurrection (=Sunday), is considered the holy day.

The basis of salvation?

Paul himself clearly is among the "strong", but nevertheless he understands the "weak". The "weak ones” apparently did not think that their own standpoint was a condition for salvation, but it was only a question of different opinions, different views on how to walk as a Christian. Paul did not accept any additional conditions to the basis of salvation, as the Epistle to the Galatians clearly shows us (Gal. 5:1-6). On the other hand, according to Paul, you could disagree on things concerning the Christian walk.

If we set our own way of doing things as an absolute condition for being a Christian, we are in heresy. Throughout the history of the church and even today, we can see that many heresies are characterized by absolute obedience to the leader and submission to him in everything.

Matters of personal preference Rom. 14:1-12

The problems dealt with in these verses – food and feast days – are probably not too difficult for us. But they bring to us a wider field of problems, which are matters that are neither commanded nor forbidden (the so called Adiaphora questions). There are certain things about which the Bible clearly says what a Christian must do, for example the Ten Commandments. In addition to these, there are many things in life for which the Bible does not give detailed instructions, for example the questions related to eating and drinking. In these matters a Christian has the "freedom of choice", however, so that he cannot violate his conscience (verse 20) or cause trouble for other Christians (verse 15).

In this respect, different things are problematic in different cultures. In many countries, playing the lottery or having lotteries to support missionary work is not a problem for Christians, but in England and Australia, Christians may feel that they are objectionable betting or gambling. This is because in these countries, betting is a real problem for many and can lead a person to deep difficulties, loss of property, and even suicide. Like Paul instructed (verse 20), we should avoid things that can cause difficulties for another Christian.

Love as a measuring stick

In the Roman church, the "strong" were in the majority, and some were even thinking that the "weak" should not be allowed to participate. In verse 1, Paul says, " As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him”, from which it has been concluded that Paul would have counted himself among the "strong". It is a question about different opinions, which, according to Paul, we should not argue about and thus split the congregation into different competing groups. Paul gives this exhortation to both parties.

Although the "strong" were in the majority, they should not discriminate against the "weak", nor try to "convert" them to their side. They too have the right to be in the church in accordance with their own convictions. It is worth remembering that there have been periods in the history of the church, when the correct doctrine has been represented by only a small minority. If they had been driven out of the church by a majority decision, the whole church would have gone permanently astray. Questions of the Christian faith cannot be resolved by voting on issues, but by the Word of God.

The right scale

Paul's position accepting both sides certainly also caused problems. Which one should they live by, the "minimum" or the "maximum": should they live as freely as possible, or as cautiously as possible, when representatives of both groups were present? Paul gives only one instruction. We must live for the Lord: we must put the interest of God's kingdom before our own interest. This was certainly difficult; giving up our own is always difficult. But in accordance with these principles, we too must strive to solve the problems that arise in today's church life.

At the end of the passage, Paul places the problems between the "weak" and the "strong" in the right perspective: a Christian's whole life is about living for the Lord, not for himself. So we must be able to see in another Christian a person created and redeemed by God, not only his opinions that are different. After all, we are not accountable to other Christians, but to God (verse 10). Nor are we accountable for other Christians, but for ourselves (verse 12).

In the Jewish Talmud it is said that man lives to die and dies to rise from the dead. Without the thought of death and eternal life, our lives are "incomplete lives". When this view opens for a Christian, he wants to behave and use his life in such a way that it is leading people to heaven, not preventing them from getting there (verse 7).

Not judging, but caring – Rom. 14:13-23

It is not for Christians to pass judgement on one other, but they should leave it to God to also judge their mutual issues (cf. Rom. 12:19-21). Condemning another Christian can be a stumbling block (verse 13), which will cause him to fall.

Verse 14 was the motto of the "strong". Immediately after using it, Paul limits it: freedom can also be misused, but it should not be. The essential question is, how the Christian's freedom is understood: "Because I am free, I can do what I want", or because I am free, I can give up anything". Paul agrees with the latter standpoint, and living by it is a sign of true "strength".

In connection with verse 14, it is worth remembering Jesus' words that there is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him (Mark 7:15), and God's words to Peter in Joppa, " What God has made clean, do not call common." (Acts 10:15). So the question is not about "evil", but about "uncleanness" (cf. v. 20). In connection with verse 14, it is also worth remembering Romans 8:34-39, where Paul states that nothing of this world can undo Christ's atoning work. Deep down, this is what also this passage is about: nothing can overcome Christ, therefore nothing can inevitably defile a Christian, so that he would lose his portion in heaven.

Judaism was and is a "food religion" (verse 15), so is Islam. Christ freed his followers from making distinction between various foods, but that does not mean that what we eat, or drink does not matter or have any meaning.

Before the face of God

The law of love requires us to put our values in a new order: first God's will and its fulfilment, and only after that our own will that we submit to God's will.

In verses 16-18, Paul talks about "good" that may “be spoken of as evil”. The “good” can be interpreted in two ways, either as the Christian's freedom or salvation. In the first case, the slanderers would be "weak" Christians, in the second, non-Christians who mock Christians arguing with each other. Be that as it may, it is worth noting that once again Paul (in verse 17) combines great truths of faith with practical matters. The content of faith influences the Christian's practical life.

The opposite of building up (verse 19) is breaking down, demolishing. Every Christian must respect another’s conviction and not try to change it by coercion or pressure (of course, the situation is different if it is a question of doctrinal error, but in the context of this chapter, we are talking about matters that are neither commanded nor forbidden). This warning applied especially to the "strong" who were in great danger of "teaching" or "enlightening" the "weak" (verse 20). If someone "weak" had begun to follow the example of the "strong" without understanding its rationale and arguments, he might have violated his own conscience.

A Christian should know that he is doing everything before the face of God (verse 22). We must know, what is inalienable for a Christian, and on which issues we can disagree. So what is most important is promoting the faith and getting into heaven.

Was Paul against all the rules?

The fourteenth chapter of Romans has often been misused. It has been argued, in reference to it, that Paul did not in general tolerate precise instructions in the Christian life. Following this view, every Christian is free to do whatever he wants. However, Paul gives, especially to the Corinthians, many absolute instructions for life, and considers that they are binding on all Christians. In two passages (1 Cor. 7:10, 14:37), he even speaks of a “charge” from the Lord, or “a command of the Lord". Paul divided his instructions, on the one hand, into those that always bind all Christians, and on the other hand, those where there is freedom. We must follow the Lord's apostle and trust that his instructions were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

So, Paul was not against all the rules, and neither do we have the right to act against the commands that he or any author of the Bible gave in the name of God. The teaching given by Paul in this chapter is applicable to the questions that remain unclear from the Bible. In his book On the Freedom of a Christian, Martin Luther summed it up into two opposing sentences, "A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all." It takes a lifetime to learn this lesson, even though it seems very easy at a first glance.