Kevin B. McCruden, «Judgment and Life for the Lord: Occasion and Theology of Romans 14,1–15,13», Vol. 86 (2005) 229-244
This article explores Paul’s discussion
concerning the strong and the weak in Rom 14,1–15,13. My thesis is that Paul’s
comments in this section of the letter function neither completely as a response
to an actual problem in Rome, nor as entirely general paraenesis. Rather, Paul’s
comments function simultaneously on both a situational and non-situational level.
Considering that specific concerns over food were likely operative in the Roman
congregation, Paul employs non-specific language in this section in order to espouse
a larger theological vision of the essential unity of Jew and Gentile under God’s
salvation in Christ.
240 Kevin B. McCruden
would not be being judged (ejkrinovmeqa). But while being judged
(krinomenoi) by the Lord we are being punished in order that we might
v
not be condemned (katakriqw'men) with the world.
The points of contact between this passage and Romans 14 are
suggestive. In both passages we encounter the pervasive theme of
judgment. Moreover, the way in which Paul describes judgment in 1
Cor 11,27-32 is significant: the judgment Paul calls for is not judgment
against others in the community but rather self judgment (see 1 Cor
11,28.31) (32). Another similarity between the two passages lies in the
deeply divine context in which the argument functions. For example,
Paul exhorts the Corinthians to discern the body of the Lord; it is
precisely such discernment of divine reality which provokes worthy
behavior. Similarly, within the context of his discussion of the weak
and strong Paul points to the deeper reality of the divine activity: the
members of the Roman community belong to the Lord (Rom 14,8).
Within such a divine setting the activity of inappropriate judgment
regarding food serves only to destroy the brother on behalf of whom
Christ died (Rom 14,15).
Perhaps the strongest point of contact between the two passages
concerns Paul’s conviction that inappropriate behavior transforms the
reality of blessing into a reality of destruction. In the passage from 1
Corinthians the result of eating and drinking in an unworthy manner is
judgment against oneself, as manifested in the community by instances
of weakness, illness, or even death (1 Cor 11,29-30). Similarly, in
Romans 14,1–15,13, inappropriate judgment against the brother
results in both the destruction of the brother who has been received by
God as well as the destruction of the work of God that was meant for
salvation.
On the basis of the above passage from 1 Corinthians I am inclined
to think of the destruction described by Paul in Romans as a very real
and physical one. Thus when Paul speaks of the brother being injured
in Rom 14,15 I understand Paul to mean this quite literally, just as he
affirms in the Corinthians’ passage that many are weak and ill and a
large number have died as a result of participating in the Lord’s Supper
in an unworthy fashion (33).
(32) See MEEKS, “Judgment and the Brotherâ€, 293.
(33) Thus I think the destruction envisioned by Paul goes beyond merely
offending a weaker brother’s moral integrity. See C.E.B. CRANFIELD, “Some
observations on the interpretation of Romans 14,1–15,13 Communio Viatorum 17
(1974) 193-204, here 198.