Study 51 – The Weak and The False

Motivated by evangelistic passion, Paul was willing to change his ground in order to win people for Christ. He said, ‘To those under the law I became like one under the law … so as to win those under the law … To those not having the law I became like one not having the law … so as to win those not having the law’ (1 Cor. 9:20,21). Maybe Timothy rejoiced to hear Paul say that circumcision was unnecessary for the Christian. Perhaps he rejoiced a little less when Paul decided that the Jews might be won over more effectively if Timothy were circumcised!

Have compassion for the weak
Paul was compassionate towards those he called ‘weaker’ people. The term, ‘weak’ is often misunderstood to refer to the more vulnerable (perhaps younger) Christian who might easily be tempted to sin. However, the context of such passages as Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 make it very clear that Paul had in mind the person who hasn’t been released by a revelation of God’s grace. He or she has a shaky conscience, struggles with the liberty of the gospel and tends to get caught up in legalism. Paul went out of his way to win people like this.

Resist the false
It should be noted, however, that his attitude was very different towards those who strongly contested his liberty. For him there was a clear difference between the ‘weak’ and the ‘false’ as is evident in his letter to the Galatians. ‘Some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you’ (Gal. 2:4-5). This whole letter was a heart cry to these young believers to resist every attempt to bring them back into legalism.

Paul dismissed the legalists in Philippi as, ‘dogs,’ ‘men who do evil’ and ‘mutilators of the flesh’ (Phil. 3:2). For him, the issues were very clear. Grace breaks the bondage of legalism and introduces believers into amazing freedom. This liberty has not only to be celebrated, but also fought for, as the letter to Galatians demonstrates. Having said that, the Christian conscience must be handled with great sensitivity. God wants to see unity and forbearance in the church and we must all learn how to love and accept one another.

To Meditate On

We must shun false teachers.

‘Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them’ (Rom. 16:17).

‘Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him’ (Titus 3:9,10).

‘Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work’ (2 John 1:9-11).

Food For Thought

Read the following verses and note the ugly effects of legalism.

Matthew 23:23 – Lack of love
Luke 18:11,12 – Spiritual pride
Mark 7:6 – Formalism
Mark 7:7,8 – Degeneration into man-made rules
Matthew 15:3-9 – Hypocrisy
John 9:16 – Spiritual blindness

To Consider

Read slowly through Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8.

Note how the weaker person is the one who tends to be legalistic in his faith.

To Be Inspired

(In relation to Philippians 3:2 where Paul speaks of legalists as ‘dogs’.) ‘This metaphor is full of “bite” since dogs were zoological “low life,” scavengers that were generally detested by Greco-Roman society and considered unclean by Jews, who sometimes used “dog” to designate Gentiles. Dogs get universally bad press in the Bible!’ (Gordon Fee, Paul’s letter to the Philippians, NICNT Eerdmans, 1995).