Pentecost Season · Proper 19 · Year A
Romans 14:1-12
The Weak and the Strong
September 13, 2026
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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Take it further: Romans 14:1-12
Commentary
Commentary on Romans 14:1-12Commentary on Rom 14:1-12 Working Preacher
The Lutheran home commentary on this Year A reading by a named seminary scholar.
Romans 14 - Welcoming the Weak in FaithRom 14 - Welcoming the Weak in Faith Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of not judging over disputable matters and living to the Lord.
Romans 14:1 CommentariesRom 14:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the weak and the strong.
Romans 14:1 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryRom 14:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.
Background & Word Study
Romans 14 (Matthew Henry Complete)Rom 14 (Mt Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools
Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading of Christian liberty.
Romans 14:1 InterlinearRom 14:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including the word for judge.
Book of Romans OverviewBook of Rom Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Romans that frames the call to welcome one another.
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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