The Strong and the Weak

This 1999 book is a study of a formerly neglected section of Paul's letter to the Romans.

This 1999 book takes a formerly neglected section of Romans and demonstrates how it affects our understanding of the whole letter and of the first audience of Paul's letter, showing how concepts significant for this section - asceticism, obligation, superstition - also matter in our reading of the whole letter.This 1999 book situates Romans 14.1-15.13 in the context of first-century Roman thought, using the lenses of asceticism (especially vegetarianism), superstition and obligation. It also seeks to situate this section of Romans within the letter as a whole, and concludes by arguing that the section illustrates the theme, or primary topos, of the letter: that Paul, his gospel, and those who follow it are not shameful. Contributions to Romans research surface where this book examines the terms 'strong' and 'weak' in light of their use within Roman social discourse; identifies the Roman social value of obligation throughout the letter as a key element both within Paul's self-understanding and in his ethical teaching; raises previously unrecognized implications of the letter's occasional nature for how we read and use Romans; and traces the topos of not being ashamed through the letter and back to its roots in the LXX.