Summary: Romans 14-16

Next week Tony will begin a new series that will prepare us for the celebration of Christmas. Today Ed wants to do two things … talk a bit about stewardship … and finish our study of Romans. [Note: Ed's thought on stewardship are found in a separate post titled, Stewardship on November 20.]

Now we must attend to Romans: In a minute I will turn you loose on Romans 14:1-23, but first a word of preparation:


This section of Romans is a very important section for us to read because it has to do with how Christians will relate to one another when they differ in terms of personal convictions. To understand this scripture best, we need to remmeber that two very different groups populated the early church: some were converts from Judaism … others were converts from belief in the polytheism of the Greek/Roman traditional religions (Zeus and Aphrodite and crew) or one of the Greek mystery religions.

Some of the converts from Judaism believed that the dietary restrictions of Judaism should still be observed as part of the Christian faith.

Some of the converts from Greek cults believed that it was still important to observe dietary restrictions (the Pythagoreans did not eat meat)

Some converts from Judaism continued to observe the Sabbath and other Jewish feast days.

Some converts from paganism and some Jewish converts did not want to drink wine or eat meat that had been offered as sacrifice to idols.

Paul was part of a group that believed that Christ had freed us from the need to justify ourselves before God by observing certain diets or rituals. In his sacrificial death, Christ had freed us from these burdens.

The various groups described faced different temptations:
Those who kept rigorous dietary and ritual practice were tempted to look down on those who did not [They were strong because they keep the practice; others were weak because they did not.]
Those who felt they had been freed from dietary and ritual laws were tempted to look down on those who still felt they need to do this stuff. [They were strong because they did not need this crutch any more; others were weak]

Now with this background, read Roman 14: 1- 23. However, as you read, think a bit about convictions that you have with whom you differ with brothers and sisters … in this room, in this church, in other churches


Read Romans 14: 1 – 23As you read, make notes in the following columns.
Thoughts, surprises, insights, questions Think about these questions:
• According to Paul’s teachings, how should we treat one another regardless of our convictions
• What is Paul’s answer to the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
• How do we find out if something we are doing is a stumbling block to other Christians?
• What should we do if another Christian’s choices are causing us to stumble?
• Paul is dealing with dietary laws and ritual practice. Were you able to think of other convictions on which you have seen Christians differ?

In view of the short time remaining and the fact that we need to finish Romans today, I will briefly summarize Romans 15:
1 – 6: An exhortation to create within the Christian community in Rome six essential characteristics: consideration of others, study of scriptures, encouragement, hope, harmony and praise. It begins with this notable verse:

It is the duty of the strong to bear the burden of those who are not strong.

7-13: An appeal that within the church we eliminate the bounds of nationality and race and become as one. Built around by quotes from Old Testament in which writers predicted that God’s blessings would flow from the Jews to all the nations. This prediction was important to Paul as he launched his ministry to the Gentiles

14-33: Paul defines his ministry and indicates his next steps. He says that his goal has always been to proclaim the gospel in places where the gospel has not been heard. He has finished his work in Greece and Turkey and wants to move west. He will first visit the church in Jerusalem with a love offering from the Gentile congregations, he then hopes to come to Rome … to visit, to rest, and to obtain support to travel on to Spain. He then asks for prayers that his offerings in Jerusalem would be accepted and that he would be “rescued from unbelievers in Jerusalem.”

What we know: He went to Jerusalem, presented his offering, was later arrested and tried by unbelievers, and appealed to Rome. Ultimately he arrived in Rome as a prisoner … and to the best of our knowledge, he died in that state;

Romans 16: A beautiful chapter of greetings in which we hear a role call of the heroes of the Roman church.

Phoebe …wealthy woman who delivered the letter and probably provided some of the support for Paul
Priscilla and Acquila: banished from Rome by Claudius, met Paul in Ephesus, traveled to Corinth with him, now back in Rome
Rufus [Mark 15:21 Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, called upon to carry cross of Jesus … this member of the church at Rome was likely the son of Simon.]
6 of 20 greetings go to women … one of whom is called an apostle and three of whom are saluted because they serve the Lord to point of exhaustion
Some evidence that slaves in the greatest houses in Rome are in the Roman church