Romans 16:17-27

Text

Romans 16:17-27. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent. Romans 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil. Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Romans 16:21 Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. Romans 16:22 I Tertius, who write the epistle, salute you in the Lord. Romans 16:23 Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother.

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, Romans 16:26 but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith: Romans 16:27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 16:17-27

655.

How can we account for the abrupt change of subject?

656.

Could the persons mentioned in Romans 16:17-18 refer to those who caused stumbling because of days and meat?

657.

How would such persons be marked?

658.

What is meant by turn away from them? Is this practiced today?

659.

Did Paul know of such persons?

660.

How could false doctrine relate to the stomach?

661.

In what sense were certain persons innocent?

662.

Paul was confident the Roman brethren would follow his word, Why was he so confident?

663.

How could it be possible to be simple unto that which is evil when Paul was discussing it at such length?

664.

What a marvelous word of encouragement is found in Romans 16:20. How could Paul be so confident of this victory? How is Satan here pictured?

665.

What is the meaning of the term grace as used in Romans 16:20 b?

666.

Some of the names in this chapter we have noticed before in Paul's letters. Does this mean that here we meet them again? Which ones?

667.

Paul didn-'t write the letter himself. How was it written?

668.

Gaius must have had a spacious house. Why do we so conclude?

669.

The gospel reached a few notable ones. Erastus is an example. Why were there not more?

670.

The eternal God is able not only to save us from our sins but to keep us from our sins. How?

671.

What is the mystery now manifested?

672.

Is this benediction applicable to us? Specify in what way.

Paraphrase

Romans 16:17-27. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them who set up separate assemblies for worship, and who occasion the weak to fall by false doctrine, or by enjoining things indifferent as necessary, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned from me in this epistle, and avoid them.

Romans 16:18 For such teachers, whatever they may pretend, do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own lusts; and by plausible discourse and hypocritical wishes of happiness, they draw away the affections of the innocent, who have no suspicion of their wickedness.

Romans 16:19 Now your obedience, in turning from idols to the true God, is reported through the whole empire: I therefore rejoice on your account. Nevertheless, I wish you to be wise with respect to good, so as to discern and practice it habitually, and to be pure with respect to evil, by avoiding all false doctrines and wicked actions.

Romans 16:20 And God, who is the author of peace, will produce peace among you by bruising Satan under your feet soon: I mean the unbelieving Jews and Judaizing teachers, who make divisions among you. The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Romans 16:21 Timothy, my assistant in the ministry, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, who are at present with me, salute you.

Romans 16:22 Tertius, who wrote this letter from the apostle's autograph, am permitted by him to salute you as the disciples of Christ.

Romans 16:23 Caius, with whom I lodge, and who shows hospitality to all the members of the church here, wishes you health. So doth Erastus, the chamberlain of Corinth, and Quartus, one of your own church, who at present is with me.

Romans 16:24 Loving you affectionately, I give you my apostolical benediction a second time. (See Romans 16:20.) The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to establish you in the belief, that by faith and not by the law the Gentiles shall be saved, according to my gospel and the preaching concerning Jesus Christ by all the apostles, according to the revelation of the mystery to them, which though contained in the covenant with Abraham, was kept secret in the time of the Mosaic dispensation,

Romans 16:26 (But is now fully published to the world, by the preaching of the gospel; and, according to the commandment of the eternal and unchangeable God, contained in the prophetic writings of the Jews, is made known to all the Gentiles, in order to produce in them the obedience of faith),

Romans 16:27 To the wise God alone, who possesses all perfection in and of himself, through the illumination of Jesus Christ, I say with understanding, to him be the glory of the salvation of the world ascribed for ever. And for the truth of all that I have written, I appeal to God, by saying Amen to the whole.

Summary

In this section, the subject of divisions or factions is strangely isolated, and made to receive special notice. The brotherhood are commanded to watch such as cause divisions and occasion stumblings, and to turn away from them. Such persons are severely characterized as not serving Christ, but their own stomachs.
After this digression, the Apostle returns to the subject of personal greetings. These ended, he closes his great letter with a most wonderful outburst of praisewonderful, because of its comprehension, complexity, and strength.

412.

When we teach as a doctrine of God our own conclusions we merit what from God and the elders?

413.

What should be done with those who cause divisions? Who is to do it?

414.

The defeat of Satan in Rome was only temporary. Why say this?

415.

Name three who were with Paul when he wrote.

Comments

b.

Warnings to those who cause the divisions. Romans 16:17-20.

We must say with Moses Lard: ... why he should have introduced the subject of divisions just in this particular conjection is not easily seen. Perhaps after thinking of all the wonderfully good people in the church in Rome he wanted them to know he was aware of the other element also. At whatever purpose this section does stand out separate and apart as a warning to all. We are not here to notice apostates or sectarians, but those who produce parties in the church. There are always some men who want the preeminence and they will have it in one way or another. In the cases here cited, such men draw aside the disciples after them for the purpose of feeding their own stomachs. The method employed by such involves opinionated teaching. Such men could not get a following by teaching the plain truth of the scriptures. An opinion must be taught as God's truth, or such divisions would never occur. In opinions we should have the greatest of liberty, but whenever we enforce our conclusions from the Scriptures with anathemas to all who do not so conclude, we cause stumblings and divisions. We may not do it for the same reason as those of Rome, but we are guilty of the same sin and merit the same censure. One characteristic mark of such division makers is their sanctimonious attitude. The unlearned and weak soon fall victims to such. What are we to do with these people? Mark them first; i.e., take note who they are, then turn away from them, avoid them, separate yourself from them. To do this two things are essential, neither of which we have in any large degree: a knowledge of the Bible and a holy courage to apply it in all cases.

Verse nineteen suggests the thought that such remarks as above (Romans 16:17-18) do not necessarily apply to the Roman brethren. Verse nineteen is somewhat in the form of an apology. The faith and unity of the Roman saints had been spoken of far and wide. Paul had heard of the reputation of the Romans, and in it he did rejoice. Paul sounds a note of warning in Romans 16:19 b. His earnest desire is to have these brethren very wise in matters of unity and love and very unlearned in matters of parties and sects. This might suggest the seeds of division were ever present in the church at Rome.

Verse twenty contains a wonderful promise and encouragement. The God of peace is referred to in contrast to the spirit of faction and war. The promise of the defeat of Satan amounts to a promise of unity. If Satan was crushed in Rome (and we believe he was), then he surely came to life later, for Rome has become well-known today for its scriptural disunity. It is good to read this blessing, The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. If the favor of Christ prevails, Satan will be crushed and division will cease.

d.

Salutations of Paul's companions. Romans 16:21-24.

Who is with Paul as the letter is written? Verse twenty-one gives a list of Paul's friends in Corinth who send their greetings. We know of Timothy; Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater are kinsmen of Paul'S, probably in the sense that each of them belong to the tribe of Benjamin. Lucius is supposed by some to be the Lucius of Cyrene of Acts 13:1, and Jason the one mentioned in Acts 17:5-7. We do not know if such is true. They do have the same names.

Paul did not himself write the letter, but dictated it to a scribe named Tertius. Evidently Tertius was known to the Christians in Rome, sends his personal greetings to them.
The house of Gaius must have been a very spacious one to entertain the whole company with Paul, indeed on one occasion the whole church. Gaius greets the Romans. How good it is to have men of means to help the cause of Christ.
The influence of the good news in Corinth reached among the leaders of the city. The treasurer of the city was found among the faithful and wished to let it be known to the saints in Rome. We know nothing of Quartus.
Once again Paul wishes the favor of Christ for the holy of Rome. Some ancient manuscripts omit this second benediction.

e.

Closing Doxology. Romans 16:25-27.

This is a most beautiful manner in which to close the letter. Such is done in a number of others. cf. Jude 1:24. Paul states that according to his preaching of Jesus Christ, God is able to establish the saints in Rome so firmly in the faith that no one or no circumstance can move them from it. This good news respecting Jesus Christ was before now a mystery and kept secret. It was a secret until the days of the prophets when it began to be revealed by the command of the everlasting God to these men who wrote by inspiration a prophetic description of the one that was to come. The purpose of the present revelation of Christ through the gospel was to produce faith and obedience among all nations. In other words, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. cf. Mark 16:15-16.

Verse twenty-seven concludes the letter in a most appropriate manner, The omniscience of God and the eternal glory coming to him through Jesus Christ are called upon for the benediction. May we be able to say of ourselves and the church where we worship and serveAmen.

416.

Who wrote the letter for Paul? From where?

417.

The gospel had wide influence in the city of Corinth. How do we know?

418.

We can be so firmly established in the faith that no one or no circumstance can move us from it. How?

419.

What was the purpose of the gospel?

420.

What was involved in the obedience to the faith?