Author: Administrador

This section of Romans makes it clear that divisions in the church go back to the earliest churches. The “strong” who are mentioned here apparently eat everything, observe all days as the same, and perhaps drink wine. The “weak in faith,” mentioned in the first verse of this reading apparently abstain from meat, observe one … Continue reading “Romans 14:1-12 Commentary by Mark Reasoner”

Paul begins Romans 14 by speaking of the “weak in faith” and in 15:1 he urges “we who are strong” to “put up with the failings of the weak.” Arland Hultgren is probably right to conclude that Paul does not use “strong” and “weak” to define particular groups of people in Rome. Instead, Paul is … Continue reading “Romans 14:1-12 Commentary by Mary Hinkle Shore”

It is tough to praise God if you are busy passing judgment on other people. At least that is what the apostle Paul seems to be saying in this passage from Romans, in which he exhorts the community of house-churches in Rome to avoid fighting over non-essential matters. Paul’s greeting to the Romans at the … Continue reading “Romans 14:1-12 Commentary by Audrey West”

In this brief but extremely rich passage, Paul tells us that as Christians we are all “morning people.” The time is just before dawn, the sky is brightening, the alarm is ringing, day is at hand. It is time to rouse our minds from slumber, to be alert to what God is doing in the … Continue reading “Romans 13:11-14 Commentary by Susan Eastman”

The readings for the first and second Sundays in Advent are taken from the later chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans. In these chapters, Paul is describing the characteristics of a Christian life. This is most appropriate as we enter what is classically a more penitential season, a season of inward reflection and preparation … Continue reading “Romans 13:11-14 Commentary by Dirk G. Lange”

In this passage, Paul puts into place a series of contrasts that are easily remembered and well-known in biblical literature: night versus day, darkness versus light, honor and virtue versus debauchery and licentiousness. These pairs of opposites can easily be coined in terms of “us” versus “them,” encouraging one to find one’s proper place on … Continue reading “Romans 13:11-14 Commentary by Valerie Nicolet-Anderson”

In this paragraph the theme of love as a force in interpersonal relationships emerges after Paul’s tangent in the first paragraph of chapter 13 on why one could obey an institution that repays evil for evil. It is certainly true that in our personal lives, we are not to repay evil for evil. That was … Continue reading “Romans 13:8-14 Commentary by Mark Reasoner”

In the first part of Romans 13, Paul addresses what those in the Christian community owe the civil authorities. He writes, “Pay to all what is due them — taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:7, … Continue reading “Romans 13:8-14 Commentary by Mary Hinkle Shore”

It is perhaps a conventional American aspiration to be debt-free in every way, because it marks autonomy and self-sufficiency. A measure of self-respect may come from living according to the twin principles, “owe nothing to anyone,” and “no one owes me anything.” The catchy line “don’t believe the world owes you a living,” quipped by … Continue reading “Romans 13:8-14 Commentary by Elizabeth Shively”

Just as Paul cannot help breaking out in poetic tribute to love in his famous love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, after beginning the subject of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, so also he does the same in Romans 12. After discussing how God has gifted various church members with faith appropriate for different roles … Continue reading “Romans 12:9-21 Commentary by Mark Reasoner”