Rembrandt (1606-1669), The Apostle Paul, c. 1657, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
In mainstream discussions regarding the Christian faith, Jesus’ admonition to “do not judge, or you too will be judged” (New International Version Bible, 2011, Matt 7:1), often gets quoted. Sometimes we avoid deeper discussions on what Jesus meant because the topic is broad and demands diligent study. Just recently, I was asked to consider the topic of creating for others a communal space free of the fear of being judged, based on Paul’s admonition in Romans 14:13, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” What did Paul mean when he admonished the believers in Rome? While a comprehensive discussion of Jesus’ view on what we can judge or not is beyond the scope of this blog article, here I will discuss some of the historical circumstances of Paul’s life in order to contribute to understanding what he may have meant when he cautioned the Roman disciples to “stop passing judgment on one another.”
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