Romans 14: Part 1: Does Paul Teach Against Keeping the Law?
We already know that the writings of Paul are difficult to understand. We were even warned beforehand by Peter that Paul’s letters can be misunderstood by those lacking a strong foundation in Elohim’s Word (The Law).
According to Peter, that error results in breaking Elohim’s Law (lawlessness/wickedness) simply because Paul can be used (in a theological error) to teach against all or some of Elohim’s Law (2 Peter 3:14:17).
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Yahshua Messiah. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Romans 14 is another unfortunate instance (among many) where teachers fail to exercise due diligence in studying Yahweh’s Word to understand exactly what Paul is teaching. As a result, many accidentally dismiss Peter’s clear warning and mistakenly render any application meaningless.
Instead, either because of intellectual laziness or placing too much unchecked faith in the doctrines of men, Romans 14 is continuously used to support a law-abolishing paradigm. More specifically, the commandments considered abolished via Romans 14 are the commandments found in Leviticus 11 (Dietary) and Leviticus 23 (Sabbath).
We are even told by Paul himself to test everything and only hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The problem is when we allow our flesh to define good verses instead of allowing Yahweh’s Word/Law to establish the true definition.
Paul even commended those who tested everything he said and checking Elohim’s Word to make sure what Paul said was what the Word said (Acts 17:10-11). If we were to test everything to Scripture as Paul recommends, then using his letters to generate the error of lawless men would be actually quite a difficult feat.
Test Against the Old Testament Scriptures
Most people today do not consider that the only Word the Bereans were searching to prove whether Paul was right or wrong was only what we now call the Old Testament. That should put things into a new perspective. Many people only test Paul’s writings against Paul’s writings, which is disturbing in and of itself.
How much of today’s interpretation of Paul’s letters could pass the test using only the Old Testament? That is certainly what a Berean would ask. In reading the Old Testament, we quickly discover that Yahweh’s Law, as delivered to us on Sinai, is intended to exist forever, and it is defined as light, liberty, the way, the truth, the life, and absolutely perfect. Yet some accuse Yahweh Elohim of removing such blessings from us. Some even accuse Paul of defining Elohim’s Law as bondage, broken, or worthless, and doubtful disputations, as stated in Romans 14.
We discovered that in the New Testament, not only is there no support of the notion that Paul taught against Yahweh’s Law, but that Paul actually consistently taught the exact opposite. Paul taught that the Law is good, holy, just, delightful, and spiritual. He stated that he believes in all of the Law and Prophets (Acts 24:13-14). He practiced Yahweh’s feast days (Acts 18:20-21, Acts 20:17, Acts 27:9-10).
In Acts 21, James directs Paul to perform a nazirite vow with four others, just to prove accusations against Paul to be false. Paul did indeed teach and practice the Law of Moses (Acts 21:20-26). These false accusations directed to Paul in the first century required that he defend himself relentlessly.
These are also the exact same accusations today, resulting from a poor interpretation of Paul’s letters by mainstream theology. After 2,000 years, Paul still has to defend himself against these false accusations. After 2,000 years, and a couple languages removed, Paul is even more difficult to understand in matters of Yahweh’s Law, yet we pretend otherwise and send those new in the faith to read and study Paul first. According to Peter, we should read and understand the Old Testament and Gospels first, then read Paul, once a stable and educated foundation is established. How often do we hear such advice?
Do Paul’s Words Really Teach Against Keeping the Law?
Even if we test Paul’s words that supposedly abolish or change Yahweh’s Law against each other, we would find several disturbing contradictions. If we read the preceding 13 chapters of Romans in the context of the audience and debate at hand (as Paul certainly intended his letter to be read), we would find a consistent progression of context that proves it very difficult to make the error of lawless men that the apostle Peter warned us about concerning Paul’s writings.
Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Romans 7:12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of Elohim according to the inward man.
Paul obviously believed in and consistently taught the law of Elohim. If the above verses are established as true, what sense can we make of Romans 14, which supposedly teaches against Yahweh’s Law?
In case there is any confusion on how he defines the Law of Elohim, Paul talking to those Roman church brethren who understand the law declares that it’s the Jews who have had a great advantage from receiving “the oracles of Elohim” (The Law/Torah) through Moses. Paul is not inventing some new mystical Law of Yahweh, but the same one that was passed down in writing through the ages.
Romans 7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law)
This is why when it comes to knowledge, Paul states that the Jews have from long ago had much advantage over the Gentiles converts in Messiah who are just now receiving and learning Elohim’s Law.
Romans 3:1-2 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of Elohim.
When Paul says the “Law of Elohim”, he means the “Law of Elohim”!