Romans 16:17

Now. 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.

'Mark' -4648. skopeo skop-eh'-o; from 4649; to take aim at (spy), i.e. (figuratively) regard: -consider, take heed, look at (on), mark. Compare 3700.

-'look out for, be keeping your eyes open for' (Lenski p. 915) 'Keep your eye on..as an peril to be avoided' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 722) 'Keep an eye on so as to avoid' (Robertson p. 428) 'Do not shut your eyes to what they are doing, nor make excuses for them.' (Whiteside p. 296)

'that are causing' -'keep your eye on those who cause dissensions' (NASV) 'He remembers what subtle and corrupting heresies have appeared among other bodies of believers, and he fears lest they may cause divisions and scandals among the Christians at Rome.' (Erdman p. 170)

'causing' -'engaged in the business of producing, and what they make it their business to produce.' (Lenski p. 915)

'the divisions' -'The article with each noun points to some well-known disturbances.' (Vincent p. 181) 'Dissensions' (NASV)1370. dichostsis dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah; from. derivative of 1364 and 4714; disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension: -division, sedition. 'stir up dissensions' (Mof)

'occasions of stumbling' -'put hindrances in your way' (Mof) 'Death-traps' (Lenski p. 915) Teaching that hinders both those trying to live the Christian life and those coming to Christ.

'contrary to the doctrine which ye learned' -here is the test for what type of teaching constitutes 'causes division and occasions of stumbling', any teaching that is contrary to the doctrine that Jesus and His apostles taught. (2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 2 John 1:9)

'turn away from them' -'having nothing to do with them..mark the aorist imperative...definitely, decisively, once for all, incline away from them..from them, not merely from their teaching' (Lenski p. 916)

Points to Note:

1. The instruction given here is manifestly different from the instruction given in Chapter 14. In that chapter brothers were to receive one another in their different practices. Not here. Obviously, Chapter 14 wasn't dealing with matters that were "contrary to the doctrine".

2. These verses may be. specific warning against Judaizing teachers, that Paul had battled with in other areas (Acts 15:1; Galatians 2:1). The next verse hints that they may have been those who preached that liberty in Christ means license to sin. (Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 2:18). Or it may simply be. blanket warning against any kind of error.

3. 'Over and over again. hear people criticizing people for criticizing false teaching. They think it's un-Christian to do that. They think it's Christian for them to critique the person criticizing the false doctrine. People, there are lines to be drawn. In God's name when they must be drawn, draw them. Don't go off halfcocked but when the evidence is in and it's clear, do what you must...the divisions being caused are "contrary to the doctrine which ye learned". Doesn't this tell you something? Doesn't this say there is. corpus of truth that is not only recognizable but which had been committed to all believers and which was indispensable to salvation and fellowship? The Master spoke of truth which was "knowable" and which gave freedom, recognizable, defensible, guardable, preachable, which could be obeyed, turned away from, denied and departed from.....to leave the doctrine of Christ without definite pattern is to convict Paul of nonsense...over and over again he calls these preachers (Timothy and Titus) to hold fast the "pattern of sound words and doctrine"...How could we recognize false teachers as false if there is no criterion for falseness?"