Jewish Christians who kept Old Testament traditions formed a third group. A fourth group, probably the smallest, were Jewish Christians who had abandoned their traditions as unnecessary and unwanted. The message God sent to that church parallels the work of the Spirit in our church today. Opinions differed on what should determine holiness in the Christian calling. Although Paul does not give details, he sets forth principles to counter the problems and leads us to better understand the difficulties confronting each group.
Love fulfills the purpose of the law and sums up the intent of the commandments.
Christians must commit to do no harm to their neighbors and, even more difficult, to love others regardless of circumstances. Christians must clothe themselves with Jesus Christ, not with carnality. Some felt free to eat any meat served. Others felt that God did not accept those who did not adhere to dietary restrictions of the Old Testament. Concerns about meat probably ran the gamut from unclean meats of Leviticus 11, to meat offered to idols, to improperly bled animals, to blemished sacrifices.