Dear Coptic Brothers & SIsters,
I'm trying to understand a verse in Romans.
Its hard to say from which point I'd like an explanation, but if there's ONE verse I have to chose from, it would be this:
Romans 14:23 (now, u can go a few verses back to get the full context, but look at what St Paul says:)
But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Thanks for any explanation, or even if someone can just send me a link of the homilies of the fathers for Romans 14. (or for the entire book of Romans even).
Now, in chapter 14, no-where is he talking about Holy Communion. What then is he talking about here? Please please explain this. I'm stuck in the middle of Turkey with no Church, and all I have is this verse blocking me. I do not want to move on to the next chapter unless I have understood this as it will just be MORE confusing.
I do not want to even leave Romans. I did that last year, and I never came back to it!!!
Comments
I don't think the explanation is hard once you read it in context. St. Paul is talking about how you should not be a stumbling stone to your brother by your eating, and that it does not matter what you eat or drink, as long as you do it in faith. The man who has doubts about his faith (concerning food) however, is condemned if he eats, "because his eating is not from faith". I could be wrong. Anyone feel free to correct me.
I don't think this is the correct explanation. I just asked the head of Sunday School in the UK about this. I couldnt wait any longer for an answer , so i called them up.
THeir explanation wasn't what you said at all. Perhaps there are dual explanations?? U never know...
But theirs made more sense (to me at least).