로마서 Chapter 14

Translation: ESV

1

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Key Message

Community is built by welcoming and accepting those who are at different levels of faith maturity without judging their opinions.

▸Chapters 14–15 address the conflict within the Roman church between the 'strong' and the 'weak.

Chapters 14–15 address the conflict within the Roman church between the 'strong' and the 'weak.' The one 'weak in faith' refers to those — primarily Jewish Christians — who have scruples about certain foods or days. 'Welcome (προσλαμβάνεσθε)' means to warmly receive them, to accept them into the community.

Related Verses

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
3

Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

Key Message

We cannot reject or condemn a person whom God has accepted, and this is the theological basis for embracing diversity within the community.

▸Commands are given to both the strong (the one who eats) and the weak (the one who abstains).

10

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Key Message

Since we will all stand before God's judgment seat, judging a brother is an encroachment on the authority that belongs to God alone.

▸The fundamental error in judging a brother is identified.

13

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Key Message

Christian freedom can be limited for the sake of a brother's wellbeing, and this is the expression of genuine love.

▸Having forbidden judgment, Paul now calls positively for not placing a stumbling block before a brother.

17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Key Message

The kingdom of God consists not of external regulations but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit — and this is the essential character of the church community.

▸The core of the debate is presented — the nature of God's kingdom is not food regulations.

23

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Key Message

The consistency of faith and action is a principle of the Christian life, and action that contradicts conscience is sin regardless of whether the action itself is right or wrong.

▸This is the conclusion of chapter 14.