Roberts, Ronald D.2012-02-292012-02-292012-02-10Roberts, R.D., 2012, ‘Deviance or acceptable difference: Observance of the Law in Romans 14–15 and Dialogue with Trypho 47’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 68(1), Art. #1015, 10 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v68i1.10150259--9422 (Print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/hts.v68i1.1015http://hdl.handle.net/2263/18310Ronald Roberts is participating in the research project of Prof. Dr Ernest van Eck in the Department of New Testament Studies of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.Utilising the symbolic interactionist study of deviance, this article compares the treatment of Law-observant Christ-followers in Romans 14-15 and Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho 47, in order to understand better the declining status of Law-observant Christ-followers in the early Christ-movement. The 'strong' in Romans 14:1-15:13 are likely Christ-followers who do not observe the Law, whilst the 'weak' are likely Christ-followers who do. Although Paul accepts Law-observant Christ-followers, his preference for non-observance decreases the status of those who observe the Law, thereby undermining Paul's vision of a unified, ethnically mixed Church. In Dialogue 47, Justin intensifies the marginalisation of Law-observant Christ-followers by placing them at the very limits of orthodoxy. Dialogue 47 suggests that the campaign for the legitimacy of Law-observant Christ-following was already failing by the middle of the 2nd century, largely because of Paul's own preference for non-observant Christ-following.en© 2011. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Paul and law-observanceLaw-observant Christ-followersDialogue 47Romans 14:1–15:13Deviant behaviorReligion and lawSociological jurisprudenceJustin, Martyr, Saint. Dialogue with TryphoTryphoJudaism -- Relations -- ChristianityChristianity and other religions -- JudaismBible -- N.T. -- Romans XIV, 1 - XV, 13 -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.Article