Romans 14:2 “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.”
Is Paul, a Jewish Pharisee converted to Christianity telling people they may ignore the food laws of Lev. 11 and Deut. 14? Answer: No. We must look at context, historical background and language translation from the Greek to English. Paul had to deal with the culture of the Roman and Greek world throughout his entire ministry.
Rom. 14:1 “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” Paul is about to discuss a weakness in the faith and how to teach one who is “weak in the faith”. He uses the example of one who eats meat and one who eats vegetables only. He considered one who only ate vegetables and not the clean meats God had made to be “weak in the faith.”
What we first notice in Rom. 14:2 is Paul does not specify clean or unclean meats (He will discuss the unclean in verse 14). Paul is discussing those who eat meat and those who eat ONLY vegetables. In Rom. 14:3 Paul says, “Let not him that eatheth despise him that eatheth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eatheth: for God hath received him.” The controversy was about judging those who did or did not eat meat or only ate vegetables. Whether the food was clean or unclean was not the issue Paul was discussing. He was reminding the Christians of Rome how to teach new converts and to put no stumbling block in their path to salvation (Rom. 14:13).
Apparently, some in the church held the belief only vegetables should be eaten. We often see this in today’s society. Vegetarianism is a big deal to some church groups. Vegan is a popular diet. Low carb diets. Gluten free diets. Hindus do not eat pork or beef. Muslims do not eat pork. Jews do not eat pork. Paul used this opportunity to make several points: 1) Do not judge those who only eat vegetables. 2) Do not judge those who eat meat. 3) He plainly showed whatever is not of faith is sin (verse 23). 4) It is wrong to seer ones conscious and eat meat if one truly believes they should only eat vegetables. 5) It is wrong to give up eating meat if your conscious says it is okay to eat meat. 6) We should not be judging each other over what we eat as the Kingdom of God is not made up of “…meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). 7) Don’t do anything to offend or discourage the new Christian converts who are still weak in the faith.
Rom. 14:14 “I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean or itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean”. The translators from the Greek to the English translated the Greek word “Koinos” as unclean in this verse. Strong’s #2839 defines koinos as “common, ceremonially unclean, impure, unholy, common, defiled…” It would have been a better translation to use the word common in verse 14.
When is a “clean” meat called “common” by God? 1) When a clean meat is strangled or still has the blood in it (Acts 15:20). 2) Common is clean food improperly prepared. 3) When a Jew was touched by a Gentile, as the Gentile was “common” (Acts 10:28). 4) When meats are offered in sacrifice to an idol.
Romans 14: 2 is not discussing clean and unclean meats but how to treat those who do or do not eat meat or vegetables. Koinos, the Greek word translated “unclean” in Rom. 14:14 is used twice in Acts 10:14 where it is translated as both common and unclean. The same Greek word “koinos”, in one sentence translated as two different English words, “common” and “unclean”. Common is the better English translation according to Strong’s Concordance (Strong’s #2839).
Romans 14:17 says “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We also see in I Cor. 10:31 “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We can both honor and dishonor God by how and what we eat and drink. A little wine is good for us (I Tim. 5:23), gluttony is a sin, drunkenness is a sin. Paul was explaining to the Romans not to judge those who do eat clean meats and not to judge those he called weak in the faith because they only ate vegetables and did not eat clean (koinos) foods (meat). We should not become a stumbling block to new converts to Christianity.
The Christian food lists God gave to mankind in Lev. 11 and Deut. 14 are still relevant today.
