Advent · The Second Sunday in Advent
Romans 15:4-13
The Weak and the Strong
December 7, 2025
Overview & Insights
“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)
In the past, some scholars have contended that Romans 14:1–15:13 is parenetic material that Paul includes in his letter at this point but that has no real connection to the churches at Rome.1According to this view, Paul rewrites and generalizes his earlier instructions in 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1 in Romans 14:1–15:13.2To be sure, there are similarities between Romans 14:1–15:13 and 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1: both address the “weak” (in faith); both center on the controversy of whether Christians should abstain from certain foods; both admonish believers in their decisions regarding that matter not to become stumbling blocks to their fellow believers.3 Most interpreters today argue instead that Romans 14:1–15:13 focuses on a divisive situation in the Roman congregations—whether to eat meat, drink wine, observe certain days as holy—with Paul ultimately answering, “Love one another.
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Commentary
Commentary on Romans 15:4-13 - Working Preacher Working Preacher
The exact verses are the RCL Advent 2 epistle for Year A, so this Luther Seminary reading of Scripture, hope, and welcome applies directly.
Romans 15:4-13 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on the strong bearing with the weak and the God of hope filling us with joy and peace.
Romans 15 Commentary: Bearing With One Another, Verse by Verse Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on Scripture written for our endurance, Christ welcoming Jew and Gentile, and the God of hope.
Romans 15:4-6 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin
A verse-by-verse study hub with word notes on endurance, encouragement, and living in harmony.
Romans 15:4 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators compared side by side on the things written for our learning that we might have hope.
Background & Word Study
Romans 15:4 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text with parsing for endurance, encouragement, and the language of hope Paul gathers here.
Overview: Romans 5-16 | Watch an Overview Video BibleProject
BibleProject's walk-through of Paul's argument as it closes with a united, hope-filled community of Jew and Gentile.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is Paul's hope in Romans 15?
Whatever was written before was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope; Christ has welcomed Jew and Gentile alike to praise God together.
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