Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 86:1 (Spring 2024)
Article: The Lord’s Day And The Maximalist Tendency In Romans 14:5–6
Author: Brant A. Bosserman

WTJ 86:1 (Spring 2024) p. 65

The Lord’s Day And The Maximalist Tendency In Romans 14:5–6

Brant A. Bosserman

Brant A. Bosserman is pastor of Trinitas Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Woodinville, WA.

The strongest explanation for the dispute over holy days reflected in Rom 14:5–6 is the early establishment of the first day of the week as the undisputed time of Christian assembly. Although there were maximalists who sought to observe every OT holy day in addition to that of Christ’s resurrection, Paul commends as “strong” the minimalist perspective that Christians need only esteem the latter. Both parties could carry on “fully convinced” (14:5c) of their practice without fracturing the unity of the early church, because their convictions overlapped regarding the obligation of “the day” of Christ (14:6a). Non-Sabbatarian interpretations err in concluding that Paul advocates toleration of a party which denied any holy day. The classic Sabbatarian interpretations err in holding that the hebdomadal day of assembly was excepted from, rather than the source of disagreements over days. Ultimately, Paul references the largely settled issue of holy days because it pointed the way to resolving the more contentious dispute over diet. Despite their differences about which foods qualified as clean, maximalists and minimalists were united on the Lord’s Day at the Lord’s Supper. So long as both partook of the Lord’s Supper together and resolved to eat their every meal in consistency with the thanksgiving pronounced with the sacrament (14:6c, e), they could carry on as one worshiping body.

Next to Gal 4:9–10 and Col 2:16–17, Rom 14:5–6 is widely regarded as one of three seminal passages expressing a generic Pauline doctrine of the non-continuance of OT holy days. It has often been thought that the Romans reference adds little to Paul’s more direct handling of the issue in Col 2:16–17.1 However, when attention is given to a significant structural pattern, Paul’s unique choice of words, and the contextual preoccupation with matters germane to holy days, it becomes evident that Rom 14:5–6 makes a distinct contribution to the topic. Rather than teaching the mere non-continuance

WTJ 86:1 (Spring 2024) p. 66

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