The above text has been often cited by me throughout this series. It is a key text for understanding who are the weak brothers. It says the weak ones, like the other groups of people mentioned in the text, need to be "gained" or "saved." Therefore, the view that says that the weak brothers are saved, yet immature, cannot be correct. But, we must also ask them a rhetorical question: Gain or save them from what? It can't mean to save them from sin via justification by faith and rebirth of the Spirit for they have already been saved and that is why they are called "brothers." (according to the view we are combating) If the weak brothers are new converts who have doubts about several points of Christian doctrine, and who therefore need to be gained or saved from doctrinal error and false religious practices, how can they be gained if the weak are not to be disputed with in the matters pertaining to his scruples? For many believe that when Paul says "receive him who is weak in the faith but not to dispute over his opinions" he forbids trying to help the weak to see his errors and become strong and no more weak. Recall that Paul said:
"Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying." (Rom. 15: 1-2 asv)
So, what are the "infirmities" (i.e. weaknesses, sicknesses, impotencies) of the weak (impotent)? If it is an infirmity to keep religious diets and holy days, and to not drink wine, or to doubt the truth of the Christian creed, is Paul advising the strong to not try to change their minds by rational argument from scripture? Does Paul not want the weak to become strong? Further, what does Paul mean by "bearing" the infirmities of the weak? Is it not what any soul winner must do in winning converts to Christ? A soul winner and apologist must put up with a lot of obstacles in the thinking of a potential disciple in trying to persuade him of the truths of the Christian religion. Read "infirmities of the lost sinner" and understand the text better.
Also, I repeat what I have said before about Paul's use of the word "brothers" in referring to the weak ones. In the above text Paul uses the word "neighbor" instead of brother. At the end of this series I will add further thoughts on the use of the term "brothers" and show that it does not necessarily mean a genuine believer. Consider also that on one side of this debate there are numerous arguments that show that "the sick ones" are not saved believers, while on the other side is one single argument, being that Paul calls the weak ones brothers. My brothers who believe the weak are born again believers I invite to come and answer these questions and arguments. Now let us return to our commentary and observations on this part of Romans chapter fourteen.
This is the third chapter in a row dealing with the above verses. If one has read all the preceding twenty five chapters I think he will see how the "weak" or "sick" brothers are not born again believers, being at most but inquirers into the religion of Christ.
A paraphrase of what Paul advised the strong ones (the members of the church of Rome that he is addressing) to say to the weak ones would be something like this:
"if they ate food in front of a religiously weak person and offended the weak, then they should let the weak know that they meant no offense; That his religion has no dietary laws, because not eating certain foods does not effect one's relationship with God. However, dear brother, friend, or neighbor, if it offends you that I eat pork then I will not eat pork in your presence. Allow me the liberty however to eat it outside of your presence. You don't want to force the requirements of your god upon me do you?"
That is my paraphrase of Paul's advice to the strong ones. The whole guiding principle of a believer's conduct towards the religiously sick and impaired is to keep them from becoming biased against the Christian faith. I have cited the words of Solomon on this point already in this series. He said:
"A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle." (Prov. 18: 19 kjv)
We should not restrict the word "brother" in this text, and in others like it, to a physical brother or brother in Christ. "Brother" here includes your natural brother, your brother through Adam, and is all the same as your "neighbor." The "winning" of this text has often been cited as referring to converting people to Christ. That being so, we must admit then that they were brothers before they were converted (or "won"). Solomon also said: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise." (Prov. 11: 30 nkjv) In Paul's instruction to the strong (spiritually or religiously healthy ones) on how to "win" or "save" the weak brothers (I Cor. 9: 22) he is giving them wisdom to win the souls of the religiously or spiritually sick. In fact, you could put "he who wins the souls of the weak is wise" over Romans chapter fourteen and First Corinthians chapter eight.
Paul says to the strong ones - "if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love." So, does this mean that since some are vegetarians for religious reasons and get offended when a Christian eats meat that the Christian then is forever forbidden to eat meat? That does not seem right. Recall that Paul said these words relative to how the strong should behave towards the weak relative to their religious errors and doubts:
"But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?" (I Cor. 10: 28-29 kjv)
By "you" in this exhortation are the members of the church at Corinth. He addresses them as if none of them were weak ones in belief. The one who says to the strong "this is offered in sacrifice to idols" is the religiously unhealthy, or the unbeliever as we have seen. (I Cor. 10: 27-30) The weak brother has a "weak conscience." (I Cor. 8: 12) Why weak, sickly, or impaired in conscience? It is because he is still a believer in the reality of idols and other gods.
So, what would be a good paraphrase for what Paul says about the weak ones and what they should say to the strong ones? I would paraphrase it like this:
"Brother, do not judge the Christian for eating foods you think are forbidden by your God or gods ("let not him which eats not judge him that eats"; Rom. 14: 3 kjv). After all, "Who art thou that judges another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls." (Rom. 14: 4 kjv) His eating all foods, all meats, is done to his Lord and God who gives him this liberty. So too with observing holy days or drinking wine or other alcoholic drinks. However, we who eat all things, and drink wine, and do not observe holy days, do not want to offend you and so we will not eat food forbidden in your presence. Likewise do not judge us for not participating in your religious feasts and observance of the holy days of your religion."
We have spoken mainly of the difficulty over religious diets as compared to the difficulty over observing religious "holy days" or "religious feasts." There are three issues that Paul brings up in Romans chapter fourteen that separate the religiously or spiritually weak from the strong. They are religious diets, keeping holy days, and wine drinking. In Corinthians the issue concerned knowledge about monotheism and polytheism, about whether the idols and gods were non entities or real beings, and about whether a Christian ought in any case to eat food that was offered to idols. Paul says that in the weak brothers there was not "that knowledge" that there "is one God of whom are all things, and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things," etc. (I Cor. 8: 6-7) That was a far more important issue than the issue of religious diets, observing holy days, or abstinence of alcoholic beverages.
Paul's religiously and spiritually weak, sick, and powerless brothers have a "weak or sick conscience," are easily offended when the strong ones of Christianity don't follow them in their religious beliefs and practices. They have a conscience that continues to be "defiled" due to their retaining a belief in idols. (I Cor. 8: 7) Notice what Paul said to Titus about those whose consciences are defiled.
"To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled." (Titus 1: 15 nkjv)
Here we see that it is those who are "unbelievers" who have a mind and conscience that are defiled.
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