Exegetical Notes on Romans 14:1-12
Romans 14:1-12
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written,
"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God."
So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
Observations:
- Welcome those weak in the faith
- Do not quarrel over opinions
- Some eat anything - don’t despise
- Some only eat vegetables - do not pass judgement
- God has welcomed them
- Who are you to pass judgements on the servants of another
- Before the Lord they stand or fall.
- They will be upheld
- The Lord is able to make them stand
- Some treat certain days as special - do it in honor of the Lord
- Some judge all days alike
- Eat - eat in honor of the Lord - they give thanks to God
- Abstain - in honor of the Lord - they give thanks to God
- We do not live or die to ourselves
- We live to the Lord
- We die to the Lord
- We are the Lord’s
- Christ died and lived again
- He is Lord of both dead and the living.
- Why pass judgement
- Why despise
- All shall stand before the judgement seat of God
- It is written (Isaiah 45:23)
- As I live every knee shall bow to me
- Every tongue shall give praise to God
- Each of us will be accountable to God.
Who: Paul
Where: Writing to the Church in Rome
When: 50’s - 60’s A.D.
What: Stressing the importance of not judging b/c there is great variety in the body of Christ.
Interpretation:
Why: There is inevitable differences in polity and personal practice. If we are united in Christ, there is plenty of room for differences over details.
Last week was Romans 13:8-14 - idea was that love does no harm to a neighbor.
Verses 13-23 deal with caring for the brother or sister who differs in opinion from you. It suggests that we don’t flaunt our freedom in the face of those for whom it is bothersome.
We know we are not to judge because everyone is God’s servant. Therefore it is not our place to judge another.
In verse 4, we know that God is able to make people stand metaphorically. This has more to do with being acquitted at the judgement seat of God. So if God acquits us of wrongdoing, it is even more important not to judge one another.
Verse 13 equates judging with putting a stumbling block in the way of another.
Verse 5 tells us that whatever your piety, you should be fully convinced in your own mind.
Convinced = Plerophoreo: to bear or bring full, to make full
to cause a thing to be shown to the full
to fulfill the ministry in every part
to carry through to the end, accomplish
things that have been accomplished
to fill one with any thought, conviction, or inclination
to make one certain, to persuade, convince one
to be persuaded, persuaded, fully convinced or assured
to render inclined or bent on
So do what you’re called to do, and do it fully. Live it up. But at the same time, don’t flaunt it in the face of someone who is different from you. Live it up, but don’t judge others who don’t share your convictions. Find the path that works for you.
Correlation:
1 Corinthians 8:13 - If eating meet causes a brother to stumble, may I never eat meat again.
Application:
What is going well that I should continue: I think I’m pretty good at refraining from judgement, so long as I see someone making a sincere effort in their faith. I probably do judge when I perceive people as heretics, or trying to do something completely silly.
What might I need to improve upon: I can’t say I’m fully convinced/persuaded/etc. That is something I’m working out in my spiritual direction. I do appreciate certain days as more holy than others, and perhaps I need to spend more time celebrating them. Next Monday is Holy Cross Day so that’s a good opportunity for me.
Homiletical Works:
Fallen Creation Focus: Human beings have an innate tendency to judge those who’s convictions differ from them.
Expository statement: Because human beings have a tendency to judge, we are brought under the Lordship of Christ.
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