Romans 1–5 and the “Weak” and the “Strong”: Pauline Theology, Pastoral Rhetoric, and the Purpose of Romans

Abstract

This essay seeks to identify how Paul responds to the problems in the situation in the Roman churches, and in so doing, to identify aspects of the relation between Paul's theology and his pastoral method. First, the pastoral context of the conflict in the Roman church is identified. The parties are seen to divide broadly, though not strictly, along Jew-gentile lines. Paul's responses to the problems in Romans 14:1–15:6 are then examined, and here Paul is seen to contrast that which is simply part of the nuts and bolts of everyday living (eating, drinking, etc) with that which has implications for eschatological judgment (such as judging and despising). Then Romans 1–5 are examined for the way in which these chapters anticipate Paul's arguments in Romans 14–15, and it is seen that at every stage in the earlier chapters Paul has at least one eye on the problematic situation in Rome.