Year 2, Week 46, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 46, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Roman 15-16.

Today’s reading concludes Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome. Romans, the longest of Paul’s letters, is a systematic explanation of the Gospel. Today’s reading begins a new segment that began in Romans 12 and focuses on the practical implications that result from God’s saving work in His Son. Romans 15 completes the subunit, started in Romans 14, on how to relate to fellow believers over disputable matters. Romans 15 concludes the instructions on relating to fellow believers when there is disputable matters by praying: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6). Romans 15 also includes the plans that Paul has to advance the Gospel into Spain as well as his appeal for their support in such a mission: “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while…I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company” (Romans 15:24,30-32). Romans 16 is a miscellaneous collection of concluding remarks and acknowledgments, but also a firm statement reflecting Paul’s conviction about the Gospel: "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen” (Romans 16:25-27).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the instructions that Paul provides concerning the issue of disputable matters: "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). The call to welcome one another is not only how this subunit ends, but also how it began: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions” (Romans 14:1). The nature of the issues that are in dispute are at the level of opinion. In other words, the matters that the believers in the church at Rome were disputing about, were not matters of essential doctrine in terms of either what was required to believe or how it was required to behave. The differences between the two groups needed to be navigated in such a way that there would not be an unnecessary rift. The two groups, while differing on a level of personal conscience, would still need to welcome each other.

The labels that Paul provides for the two groups provides further insight into the nature of their differences. Paul calls one group “the one who is weak in faith,” while labeling the other group “We who are strong,” (thus revealing which side of the issue that Paul lined up). The labels “weak” and “strong” should not be meant to be a statement on the level or intensity or amount of trust that the sides had in Jesus. The labels pertain to the calibration of the conscience that each side possessed. The “weak” felt they should only eat vegetables and not eat (presumably because the meat may have been offered to an idol): “One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables” (Romans 15:2). As another example the “weak" felt they should observe special days (presumably as outlined in the Old Covenant): “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike” (Romans 15:5). Paul does not come right out and declare which side is correct, for he knows that in matters of conscience, it is not wise to go against the calibration of one’s conscience: "I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean…Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 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" (Romans 14:15,22b-23). One’s conscience may not be optimally calibrated according to the Word of God; but the conscience should not be violated.

What Paul is most concerned about is that attitude that the two groups had toward each other: "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” (Romans 14:3). The “strong” were not to despise or belittle the “weak,” and the “weak” were not to judge or condemn the “strong.” Each side was to welcome the other side as the Lord had welcomed both sides. While Paul implies he sides with the “strong” on the matters in dispute, he seems most displeased with the actions of the “strong” in the presence of the “weak.” To the “strong” Paul warns: "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…Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble” (Romans 14:13,20-21). Rather than acting that flaunts the strength of one’s conscience, it is better to abstain and keep one’s opinion on a controversial matter private if it would provoke futile division: “The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God” (Romans 14:22a). Paul stressed the need to serve others above one’s self: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up” (Romans 15:2).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe