Romans 14 Meaning: Who Are the Weak? | Episode 64

What does Romans 14 mean when Paul speaks about food, stumbling blocks, and those who are weak? Many readers assume Paul had left Jewish practice behind and was teaching others to do the same. But when we follow Paul through Acts and his letters, that assumption becomes much harder to maintain.That raises an important question for Romans 14: if Paul did not simply reject the Law of Moses or Jewish practice, who exactly are the “weak” he is describing, and what is really dividing these believers?In this episode, we follow Paul through Acts 21, Acts 28, Galatians 2, and Romans 14 to examine his relationship to the Law of Moses and the first-century relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul defended justification by faith apart from works of the Law while also denying that he taught Jewish believers to abandon their customs.That background changes the way we approach Romans 14 and the identity of the “weak.” It also helps explain Paul’s concern for table fellowship, the relationship between Jew and Gentile, and what grace meant during the transition into the New Covenant age.Read the companion study and continue the conversation: https://wakinguptograce.com/064-paul-rebukes-peter-part-2-galatians-2-11/