There are interesting similarities between Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8. Comparing and contrasting the two is one way to help clear up some misunderstanding about these passages. I will not quote the entire chapters here in this article, but will assume the reader will familiarize himself with them as we continue this study.

   In Romans 14 Paul addresses the problem of Christians who are weak in faith (verse 1). In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul is concerned with the Christian whose conscience is weak (verse 7). In both passages Paul demands that the strong use special care in dealing with the weak

   Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (Romans 14:19)

   But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)

   In both passages, Paul demands that the strong surrender their liberty--not to placate the obstinate--but to edify the weak:

   It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. (Romans 14:21)

   Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:13)

   I say that this does not apply to the *obstinate* because Paul refused to yield to those Jewish Christians who--in spite of Apostolic decree--bound circumcision or the Law of Moses upon the Gentiles (Galatians 2:5). Yet Paul circumcised Timothy (who was half Jewish) so that it would not be a cause of contention among those to whom Paul preached (Acts 16:1-3).

   In both Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, Paul is addressing the problems that might arise because Christians do not all share the same amount of knowledge. He urges what we might consider extreme measures on the strong so that the weak can be edified and grow, rather than become confused and weakened.

   Yet there are major differences in the subject of these two passages. One brother is weak in *faith*, the other weak in *conscience*. Romans 14 deals with practices that are acceptable to God, while 1 Corinthians 8 deals with practices that have been condemned. For example, Romans 14 speaks about eating meats or certain kinds of meats, which Paul clearly declared spiritually wholesome (Romans 14:14). On the other hand, 1 Corinthians 8 speaks of eating meats that were sacrificed to idols, which was clearly prohibited by the Apostles of our Lord (Acts 15:29).

   The weak in faith of Romans 14 is weak in *conviction* about the decree of the Apostles regarding a practice. For this reason his conscience is troubled when he practices it. His conscience is strong. It troubles him and prevents him from being comfortable. That is what a conscience is supposed to do. Yet his faith is weak, in that he has not convinced himself that the word of the scriptures is sufficient.

   For example, consider a converted Jewish man who is forty years old. For forty years he was taught that it was wrong to eat pork. A strong and knowledgeable brother invites him to dinner and considers serving pork. The weak in faith protests--he had always considered it wrong. The strong in faith, obeying Paul's instructions in this chapter, determines to serve something else because he does not want the weak brother to offend his conscience.

   Meanwhile, the weak brother does not condemn the one who eats pork, because he knows--though he has not yet convinced himself deep down--that the scriptures allow a Christian to eat pork (Romans 14:3). He himself refrains from eating pork while working to bring his convictions in line with the scriptures.

   The weak in conscience (of 1 Corinthians 8) can be emboldened by the actions of another Christian to do something he knows is wrong:

   For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? (1 Corinthians 8:10)

   The weak in conscience of 1 Corinthians 8 might do something that he knows is wrong. He might sin because his conscience is not strong enough to keep him from doing it. For example, a Gentile might be converted at the age of forty. For nearly forty years he has comfortably eaten meats that were sacrificed to idols. In becoming a Christian he learns that he can no longer eat these meats. His conscience, however, will take some time before it can make him uncomfortable if he contemplates this wrong. A small encouragement from another Christian might be all that is needed to lead him back into this sin.

   In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul rebuked the Christian who, through some arrogant "knowledge," believed he could set aside God's command. Despite the prohibition of Acts 15:29, this brother reasoned that he *could* eat meat sacrificed to idols because he knew that the idol was empty or vain. In this rebuke, Paul reminded him that some Christians who are not as "enlightened" might be easily led into sin because their conscience is weak.

   These passages recognize that different Christians have different levels of knowledge, conviction and resistance to sin. The passages do not allow anyone to set aside any command of God, but the passages demand that we all go to great lengths to edify those who are weak in some way.