We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is saying that those with a strong grasp of Christian freedom have a responsibility not just to tolerate, but to actively carry or support the weaker believers, setting aside their own desires for the good of others. This isn't about superiority, but about reflecting Christ's self-giving love by patiently bearing burdens for fellow believers.
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is guiding the Roman believers on how to live together peaceably, especially concerning differences in practice, like dietary laws. Having just addressed those who were troubled by certain foods, he now turns to those who felt they were "strong" in their faith and freedom. He urges them to use their spiritual maturity not to assert their rights, but to patiently support those who are weaker.
Who are the 'strong' in faith, and what does Paul mean when he says they have an 'obligation'?
Paul addresses those who are spiritually mature and confident in their understanding of Christian freedom. The term 'strong' doesn't mean they are inherently superior, but rather that they have a clearer grasp of what is permissible in Christ, especially concerning issues like dietary laws or the observance of certain days that were causing division.
Their 'obligation' is not a casual suggestion but a serious responsibility. It stems from their greater spiritual capacity. Just as a strong person in good health has a responsibility to help someone who is frail, those 'strong in faith' have a duty to support and accommodate those who are 'weak'. This doesn't mean condoning sin, but rather being considerate of others' struggles and immaturities in their faith journey.
What does it mean to 'not please ourselves,' and how does this connect to building up others?
The core of this verse is the selfless attitude required in the Christian community. To 'not please ourselves' is to actively resist the natural human inclination to prioritize our own comfort, preferences, and rights above the well-being of others.
In the context of Romans 14 and 15, this primarily meant that the 'strong' should not insist on exercising their Christian liberties in a way that would stumble or offend their 'weaker' brothers and sisters. It's about considering the impact of our actions on others and choosing actions that build them up (edify) rather than tear them down. True Christian freedom is not about unrestrained personal autonomy, but about loving service that seeks the spiritual growth of the community.
Ask a follow-up
Why does Paul immediately point to Christ's example? What can we learn from His 'self-pleasing'?
Paul doesn't just lay down a rule; he provides the ultimate motivation. He points to Jesus Christ Himself, stating, 'For even Christ pleased not himself.'
This is a profound truth. Jesus, fully God and fully man, had every right to prioritize His own comfort and desires. Yet, His entire life was an act of selfless obedience to the Father and service to humanity. He endured suffering, rejection, and the cross not for His own pleasure, but for the salvation of the world. His example shows that true strength in faith is demonstrated not by asserting one's own rights, but by humbly serving others, even at great personal cost.
This selfless devotion to God's will and the good of others is the standard for all believers. It transforms an obligation from a burdensome chore into a reflection of Christ's own love and sacrifice.
Understand the original words
dynatoi · Greek Adjective
In a biblical context, strength refers to spiritual maturity and firm conviction regarding matters of Christian liberty, specifically in relation to the conscience. It implies a stability in faith that allows one to bear the burdens of others.
bastazein · Greek Verb
To endure, support, or carry a burden. It carries the sense of patiently putting up with or tolerating something that is difficult or contrary to one's own preferences.
asthenemata · Greek Noun
Infirmities, weaknesses, or shortcomings. In the context of Romans, it refers to those whose faith is not yet fully informed or settled concerning disputable matters, making them prone to stumbling.
asthenōn · Greek Adjective/Noun
A state of being powerless or lacking strength, specifically in faith or spiritual understanding. It denotes a vulnerability that requires the support and gentleness of more mature believers.
This verse addresses the real-world friction within early Christian communities, particularly between Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome, who had differing practices and understandings stemming from their backgrounds.
c. 50 AD
Paul's Ministry to Gentiles
Paul is actively evangelizing Gentiles and establishing churches among them, leading to a growing number of non-Jewish believers in the early Christian movement.
c. 50-55 AD— this verse
Tensions in Roman Churches
Within the Roman church, there are likely Jewish and Gentile converts with differing practices and understandings, particularly regarding dietary laws and religious festivals, leading to potential divisions and judgment among believers.
c. 55-57 AD
Paul writes Romans
Paul, while in Corinth, writes his letter to the Romans to address these internal tensions and to lay a theological foundation for Christian unity and conduct.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment of Romans 15:1 by urging believers to 'bear one another's burdens,' which fulfills the law of Christ, highlighting the shared responsibility in the faith community.
Philippians 2:4This verse expands on the idea of not pleasing oneself, stating that believers should 'look not only to his own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others,' reinforcing the selfless concern for others found in Romans 15:1.
1 Corinthians 10:24This verse provides a practical outworking of not pleasing oneself, instructing believers to 'seek not his own advantage, but that of the other,' which directly aligns with the principle of bearing with the weak for their edification.
1 Corinthians 9:19-22Paul's own example of becoming 'all things to all people' in order to win them for Christ demonstrates the practical application of bearing with others' weaknesses and setting aside personal preferences for the sake of the Gospel, mirroring the self-denial urged in Romans 15:1.
1 Peter 4:8This verse emphasizes the importance of fervent love for one another, stating that 'love covers a multitude of sins,' which implies a willingness to overlook and bear with the failings of fellow believers out of deep affection, connecting to the call to bear infirmities.
expositorsRomans 15:1: "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."
Chapter 30 THE SAME SUBJECT: THE LORD’S EXAMPLE: HIS RELATION TO US ALL Romans 15:1-13 THE large and searching treatment which the Apostle has already given to the right use of Christian Liberty, is yet not enough. He must pursue the same theme further; above all, that he may put it into more explicit contact with the Lord Himself. We gather without doubt that the state of the Roman Mi…
barnesRomans 15:1: "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."
We then that are strong - The apostle resumes the subject of the preceding chapter; and continues the exhortation to brotherly love and mutual kindness and forbearance. By the "strong" here he means the strong "in faith" in respect to the matters under discussion; those whose minds were free from doubts and perplexities. His own mind was free from doubt, and there were many others, par…
Paul is saying that those with a strong grasp of Christian freedom have a responsibility not just to tolerate, but to actively carry or support the weaker believers, setting aside their own desires for the good of others. This isn't about superiority, but about reflecting Christ's self-giving love by patiently bearing burdens for fellow believers.
Paul is guiding the Roman believers on how to live together peaceably, especially concerning differences in practice, like dietary laws. Having just addressed those who were troubled by certain foods, he now turns to those who felt they were "strong" in their faith and freedom. He urges them to use their spiritual maturity not to assert their rights, but to patiently support those who are weaker.
Paul is guiding the Roman believers on how to live together peaceably, especially concerning differences in practice, like dietary laws. Having just addressed those who were troubled by certain foods, he now turns to those who felt they were "strong" in their faith and freedom. He urges them to use their spiritual maturity not to assert their rights, but to patiently support those who are weaker.
"We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves." — Paul is saying that those with a strong grasp of Christian freedom have a responsibility not just to tolerate, but to actively carry or support the weaker believers, setting aside their own des…
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Last reviewed October 2026