Romans 15:1 Meaning and Explanation
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those firm in faith have an obligation to carry the weaknesses of those who are not, rather than living to suit themselves.
What Does Romans 15:1 Mean?
Paul has been addressing tensions in the Roman church between believers of differing convictions about food and holy days. Here he draws the matter to a head: the strong, those whose consciences are free, are not to flaunt their liberty but to shoulder the burdens of the weak.
The word translated 'ought' carries the weight of a debt owed. Strength in the faith is not a privilege to be enjoyed alone but a trust to be spent for others. Christ Himself bore what was not His to bear, and those who follow Him are called to the same self-forgetting love, holding their freedom lightly for a brother's sake.
Romans 15:1 in the Original Language
bastazo (βαστάζω), 'bear' -- to carry or lift a weight, as one shoulders a heavy load for another.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 15:1
What does Romans 15:1 mean?
Those firm in faith have an obligation to carry the weaknesses of those who are not, rather than living to suit themselves.