Romans 14Reflections on Romans 14
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By A. J. Fecko

This is not so much a commentary as it is an exploration of another way of considering the situation that is being addressed in Romans 14.

The issue of Romans 14 is usually considered to be dealing with the situation between the Jewish and Gentile Christians over non-kosher eating, and in particular from those animals who were sacrificed to idols as in 1 Corinthians 8-10. If this is correct, it's clear that the vegetarians Paul appears to address as "weak" are not vegetarians for ethical or health reasons, nor are they voluntarily abandoning flesh eating as a form of discipline to grow closer to the Lord.

While the eating of idol victims or some kashrut issue is possibly the issue that is here being dealt with, there are a number of problems with this view. It was very common in ancient Italy for people to raise animals for food. There would be no problem for Jewish Christians to raise chickens, kill, eat them, and give or sell them to their neighbors.

Jewish Christians, though they would keep kosher, would not need Rabbinic approval. Certainly, church leaders would for Jewish Christians have more authority to pronounce on which food can and cannot be eaten than Non-Christian Rabbis. Even if every single piece of flesh owned by pagan Italians was offered to an idol (which I don't believe is the case) it's hard to see how Christians would be without flesh to eat simply in an attempt to avoid eating idol victims.

There is no reference to idol sacrifices anywhere in Romans. Yes, some of the language is similar to 1 Corinthians 8-10. However, in Corinthians the weak eat because they are gentiles accustomed to the idol; and Bible commentators usually assume the weak in Romans are Jewish Christians who keep the Sabbath and holy days. However, my view on this is that, in Romans, the believers Paul is addressing abstained from flesh sometimes; but the strong abstained from flesh everyday. Either way there's some difference between the two situations in Rome and Corinth.

Nor is there any suggestion that the abstainers need the Gospel of grace or Christian liberty explained to them, but "Happy is he who is not judging himself in that which he is trying out." Much evidence points to the early Jerusalem church extolling vegetarianism. Therefore, it is likely his opponents from the pro-circumcision party did as well. But many in his own congregations are vegetarian; how else could he address them with authority. It's also a practice he approves, Rom. 14:21; and likely was vegetarian himself, 1 Cor. 8:13. But as the apostle of the nations he cannot afford to seem to encourage the adoption of Mosaic clean/unclean distinctions, nor does he want stumbling blocks thrown in the way of new converts. So Paul must treat this issue carefully. Here I give what I believe is a probable way Romans 14 was meant by Paul to be read:

13:11 This, also, do, being aware of the era, that it is already the hour for us to be awakened from sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believe.

12. The night progresses, and the day is near. We, then, should be putting off the deeds of darkness, and should be putting on the armor of light.

13. As in the day, properly, should we be walking, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and unrestraint, not in quarreling and jealousy,

14 but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be making no provision for the cravings of the flesh.

14:1. Yet the weak in the faith admit, but not for disputation of reasonings.

2. "This one, indeed, believes to eat everything, yet the one who is weak eats herbs". [One should not only ask what a verse could mean, but what it is likely to mean. This verse is usually read as being a "ho men..ho de" construction, which is usually "this one vs. the other one". But there must be a reason he has "hos men" unusually paired with "ho de" (so making the verse ambiguous). In fact, Paul uses "hos men" correctly with "hos de" just a few verses later in verse 5. So it's unlikely this is an ordinary one vs. the other contrast. "Hos", naturally connects to the previous verse, which here is "the weak in the faith". Rather than call his omnivorous converts (the majority) "weak", he politely says it indirectly. Paul describes the faith of "the weak" as his belief that he may eat all as "hos men pisteuei phagein panta"; that is "believes to eat everything", as if that were the purpose of his faith. An attitude Paul criticizes in verse 17. He then describes "the weak in the faith" as doing the opposite of what the proverbial weak man does. A weak man eats herbs to get well. Some early manuscripts have a variant, the imperative "esthietw", "should eat". "Esthietw" is the reading in the earliest manuscript we have of Romans 14, p46 or "Chester Beatty", dated to the 3rd century. Either way, the second clause is a proverb, and not a description of "the weak in the faith".

A different possibility is that verse 2 gives an example of the disputation mentioned in verse 1, that the "strong" need not permit; a kind of belief that holds abstention from eating flesh as having little value.

3. Let not him who is eating ["o esqiwn" (him who is eating), possibly a pun, sounds almost identical to "asqenwn" (weak)] make light of him [From "exouthenew," like Paul wrote regarding Timothy,1 Cor. 16:11] who is not eating. But let not him who is not eating be judging him who is eating, for God has admitted him.

4. Who are you; the judge of another's servant, for whose own Lord he stands or falls? Yet he shall be established; for the Lord has the power to establish him.

5. This one, indeed, is judging for one day rather than another day, yet that other is judging for every day. [To me this suggests that all the Christians of Paul's community abstained from flesh sometimes. But the strong abstained from flesh everyday] Let each in his own mind fully satisfy.

6. He who is minding the day, minds it to the Lord; and he who is eating, is eating to the Lord, for he is thanking God. And he who is not eating, to the Lord is not eating, and is thanking God.

7. For not one of us is living to himself, and not one is dying to himself.

8. For both, if we should be living, to the Lord are we living, and if we should be dying, to the Lord are we dying. Then, both if we should be living and if we should be dying, we are the Lord's.

9. For this Christ died and lives, that He should be Lord of the dead as well as of the living.

10. Now why are you judging your brother? Or why are you also making light of your brother? For all of us shall be presented at the dais of God,

11. for it is written: Living am I, the Lord is saying, For to Me shall bow every knee, And every tongue shall be acclaiming God!

12. Consequently, then, each of us shall be giving account concerning himself to God.

13. By no means, then, should we still be judging one another, but rather judge this, not to place a stumbling block against [dative of disadvantage] a brother, or a snare. [To me it seems that with this verse Paul switches his emphasis in address from the "strong" to the "weak."

14. I have perceived and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing common is through him, [Here I'm using the variant "autou". Though the "Textus Receptus" has "eautou", most Byzantine (Majority) Text manuscripts, as well as many other texts, have "autou". "Autou" was likely changed to "eautou" because "eautou" is less ambiguous than "autou", and "eautou" is used at other points in Romans 14.] If not toward him accounting something to be common, it is common for that one. [the offending brother]

[The true definition of a "common" or profane action is to act toward others in a way harmful for them. So, in regards the Christian fraternal relationship, it is "common" to offend or "snare" those who follow the committed practice of a vegetarian diet, or to stumble those who follow a more elementary practice. The Greek variant "eautou" of Rom. 14:14 is also in harmony with my overall interpretation. In that case the point of the passage is possibly that what is "common" is different for different individuals. Differences in situations, capabilities, and degrees of understanding are unique for every Christian. In Paul's day some would honestly see their situation as ruling out for them a year round vegetarian diet. It's also grammatically possible that tw logizomenw" is neuter. This would make the last phrase "if not with that accounting to be somewhat common for that one is common."] 

15. For if, because of food, your brother is grieving, you are no longer walking according to love. Not to your food that (one) lose over which Christ died. [Greater love than this has no one, that anyone may be laying down his soul over his friends. John 15:13. I left the second sentence very literal as it could refer to either brother. Many commentaries assume this is identical to 1 Cor. 8:11. But while similar, they're not synonymous. There's no reference to idol victims here, or anywhere else in this chapter. Also, the previous sentence speaks of a grieving brother, which is different from being built up to eat idol victims. If addressing the brother that eats flesh, it might mean "Do not lose to your food that one over which Christ died." That is, don't make your vegetarian brother fail in his practice. It could also be something like "Do not lose or ruin that one with your food over which Christ died." That is, if to the non-vegetarian, if you encourage your fellow omnivores to place their meat above spiritual goals (verse 17) they may lose their relationship with God. Or to the vegetarian, don't misuse your diet by driving others away. Finally, it might possibly refer to "that thing" for which Christ died Rom. 14:9. That is, ones account (logon) before God Rom. 14:12, that could be ruined by a carnal mindset.]

16. Let not, then, your good be blasphemed, [By emphasizing their right to eat whatever they want, they leave any real good of theirs (explained in verse 17) open to ridicule.]

17. for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

18. For he who in these things serves Christ is well pleasing to God and certified by men.

19. Consequently, then, we are pursuing that which makes for peace and that which is for edification of one another.

20. Not because of food tear down the work of God. Everything, indeed, is pure, but it is evil against the man who eats by stumbling. [ "Everything is pure" like "Everything is lawful" 1 Cor. 612, is a Pauline maxim, that can be understood accurately or inaccurately. Paul must make clear that what he has written up to this point does not reassert Mosaic clean/unclean distinctions. No being and no object is "unclean" in itself, but our actions regarding them certainly can be depending on circumstances. One example of flesh eating Christians stumbling would be for them to be inconsiderate to the efforts of those members of Paul's community that have adopted the natural diet intended by God (Gen. 1:29). A diet not only healthy, but also if adopted by the majority of the population worldwide would help ease some of the travail Paul writes of earlier in this epistle. "For the longing focus of creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God. For to vanity was creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of the One subjecting it, in hope that creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now. Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the first fruit of the Spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body." Rom. 8:19-23]

21. It is beautiful not to be eating flesh, nor yet to be drinking wine, nor yet to do that by which your brother is stumbling, or is being snared, or weakened. [Here Paul begins to summarize his main points. Naziritism, or wine abstinence, was apparently also practiced by some in the Pauline churches. Acts 18:18 1 Tim. 5:23. But as this, and other passages show, this was clearly a secondary practice in importance to flesh abstinence.]

22. The faith which you have, have for yourself in God's sight. Happy is he who is not judging himself in that which he is trying out.

23. But he who discriminates is condemned if he eats, because it isn't of faith; and whatever is not of faith is a sin. [Those who abandon a more venerable lifestyle that is well established, or possibly have vowed to keep, experience a spiritual demerit. It is not that they fall out of grace, or are no longer Christians. But their actions are not indifferent either. Or, it could mean that omnivorous behavior is always sinful if coupled with discrimination or contempt for Christians that don't eat flesh. It might also mean that those who discriminate by standing in judgment of Christians with less firm eating habits become hypocrites if they eat flesh. Or, perhaps a better translation is "he who disputes", that is someone that disputes there is any value in refraining from flesh consumption.] 


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See the following related articles and commentaries:
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 8
A Commentary on the Second Chapter of Colossians
When Did Animal Sacrifices Begin?
When did the Church abandon animal sacrifice?

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