There is no consensus over the precise nature of the issue or issues that Paul was dealing with. Some think there were specific issues in Rome, others see it more of general teaching on dealing with disputable matters. Some see it as applying to individuals, others as applying to certain groups within the church at Rome. In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul deals with the specific matter of food offered to idols and is addressing a particular question that had arisen in that church. There is no hint of that having happened in Rome, and the food issues mentioned here are probably much more general. I will take the line that Paul is addressing general issues. This magnificent letter is a presentation of the gospel, both theological and pastoral. There will be issues that are of secondary importance, where deciding what is right and what is wrong (and who is right and who is wrong) is not actually the key issue. We do, at the same time need to recognise that there are primary issues where some views definitely are right and some definitely are wrong. In today’s church we fall down much more often on the latter.
Paul refers to those whose faith is weak. I don’t think we should take “weak” here is a derogatory sense. Paul is addressing those who definitely believe that salvation is through faith in Christ alone, but we all come with a past, we all live in a society and culture with a past and a present. For the Jews circumcision was a central part of their religion. They also had food laws, and there were Gentile groups who had rules and practises about food as well. Certain days were regarded as special by some as well. Where do all these fit in now that someone has come to Christ?
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