By: Dr. James Ricks
Romans 14:1-6
- No major teacher of Christianity was in Rome at the time when this epistle was written. Therefore Paul is explaining the very basics to the Roman brethren. The people he is teaching thru this letter are all Jews or Jewish Proselytes because no Apostle has as yet been in Rome to convert a large number of gentiles directly into the faith. Paul does not reach Rome until near the end of the great apostolic period of evangelism described in the Book of Acts. The letter to the Romans is dated at 60 A.D. while Paul's arrival in Rome is in 63 A.D. See Acts 28:16-25 for proof that Paul was the first Apostle to reach Rome.
- What this means is that the Roman brethren would a primarily Jewish foundation of truth based on the Old Testament. They would need to be informed on some of the newer basics such as law and grace. This is exactly what we find in the earlier portions of this letter. If another Apostle had been at Rome at the time they would NOT have needed these basics explained to them from a distant Apostle Paul by letter.
- The theme of Romans 14 was to teach the brethren in Rome not to condemn or pressure other brethren over questionable issues. These are issues that would not determine your salvation. Paul said in Romans 14:1 "Him that is weak in the faith receive you but not to doubtful disputation." Remember this theme to fully understand the meaning of Romans 14. Paul is not undermining the only Bible they would known the Old Testament and the laws therein.
- Paul earlier in this letter to Rome explains that law and grace support one another. One does not need grace if there is no law and that you cannot be saved by law alone. Especially look at Romans 3:31and Ro 5: 20-6:3 and verses 11-12 and Ro: 7:7. Paul is writing to stabilize this church until he or some other Apostle arrives in the basics such as law and grace. He is clearly not contradicting his earlier statements in this letter in support of God's laws.
- Any issue which is already clearly and explicitly spelled out in God's laws in the Old Testament would not be a doubtful matter. Therefore he was not overturning the law regarding the Sabbath or which meats were clean and appropriate for human consumption. The Jews and proselytes of Rome knew he was not referring to those items and that he was not contradicting himself. We must not approach these statements of Paul just from our belief set that we grew up with in today's world. But what did Corinthians and Paul perceived that he meant.
- Romans 14:2-3 Involves the issue of meat sacrificed to idols. Paul is saying don't judge those that are so afraid of idol contamination of all meat sold in the shops of Rome that they will eat no meat and become vegetarians. He is not saying it is alright to eat anything like mice, rats, grubs or swine. Those believers in Rome with their synagogue teaching background would know this beyond any doubts. Look at I Corinthians 8:1-2, 4-8 and ICor 10:7, 18-25 for more details into Paul's beliefs on meat that may have been set before idols. Paul clearly taught the Gentiles in Corinth that they could eat the clean appropriate meat sold asking no questions. Paul says it is irrelevant if they meat may have been set before an idol because the idol is nothing. See I Corinthians 10:26-32. Paul further explains that if the other party says that you are joining them by eating this meat in worshiping the idol then you should refuse to eat it. Do not eat it for their sake.
- Paul is saying do not be a corrupting influence on the other person. Think of the other person's spiritual welfare. Even if it at times this may mean eating no meat at all. Note that Paul is labeling the vegetarian in this scenario as the weak brother. The person who is the strictest. The person who fears the idol contamination too much is described as weak. Now if one is a vegetarian for only health reasons then it is a neutral issue. You can do whatever you feel is best for you. The principle is for us not to criticize the weak. We should accept them and eventually they will probably grow out of it. Even if they do not it is Christ who is their judge not us.
- Romans 14:5-6 is obviously not trying to cancel the Sabbath law but referring to the practice of which days are most advantageous to fast for greater growth. See Luke 18:9-12. Some Jews and proselytes would logically have come out of the more self-righteous wing of Judaism. Those persons tended to debate about religious rituals and practices that could make one more or over righteous. Those Jews would not have fasted on the Sabbath for they knew that it was designated in the law as a feast day and as the day for weekly worship of God. Paul said early in this letter that one must OBEY the law. Read Romans 2:11-13. He also made it clear that this applied to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul also thereby clearly supports Sabbath keeping laws. See Acts 13:42-44. If gentile converts were keeping Sunday Paul would have told them at this time.
- It is probable that some of the recent gentile converts to the worship of the true God over false pagan gods were vulnerable emotionally and still weak toward idols. Their memory of hedonistic eating before idols was likely still very strong. They may have missed the emotionalism and excitement of hedonistic pagan ceremonies. Further it is possible that some of the self-righteous Jews who now believed in Christ still had a Pharisaical perspective on worship. Note Acts 15:1, 5. -They would be overly critical of anything that got even close to an idol. Both individuals would be considered weak by Paul's description. The remainder of Romans 14 says to be overly considerate of these weak brethren. The strong and mature should be kind and not be judgmental toward the weak because they really belong to Christ not us. He will judge them.
