In the light of the entirety of the Pauline epistles
Romans 14 is dealing with those weak in the faith (immature) arguing their positions against the elders in the faith (mature). Paul wants the elders who are mature to guide the immature with patience. Not overwhelming them to the point of discouragement to the point of destroying what little faith they have left. Paul wants the elders to not use their freedom to the point where the weak brother is led astray. In
Galatians 2:13, where Peter's hypocrisy in Antioch caused even Barnabas to follow him in avoiding Gentile believers, contradicting the Apostolic truth, until Paul confronted Peter publicly. In
Romans 14, Paul is addressing elders on how to act with an around weaker believers. No where in the New Testament can we see were the Apostle believed we should be weak in the faith indefinitely. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Paul taught those coming to the faith had it partially, knowledge was partial, the prophetic only could be understood partially. Yet, all the partial understanding becomes complete when we become an adult in Christ. We then see the full picture. The only thing which would cause even that little we had in the beginning to vanish away, would be the unwillingness of yielding to the love of God. Paul wanted the elders to work with the weaker saints with the love of God. Therefore helping them grow in strength and knowledge to fully mature adults.
Threaded Mode
