Beware of Those Who Cause Division in the Church!
Thinking about Romans 16:17-20.
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:17-20)
Paul offers one final word of warning to the Christians in Rome.
He loved them dearly and believed they could handle whatever came their way (Romans 15:14), but he also wanted them to be aware of a lurking danger that would destroy them if they were caught off guard.
Watch out for these people, and avoid them.
Paul gives a clear warning - like a train sounding its horn while approaching a railroad crossing - to “note” (carefully watch) and “avoid” (turn away from) those who caused divisions and offenses (stumbling blocks). This behavior by the troublemakers was contrary to or against the teaching the Christians in Rome had been taught and learned.
Some think there were those currently causing divisions and offenses among the churches in Rome. Some believe this wasn’t a current issue, but Paul knew it could happen soon as it had happened in other places. Either way, the warning and command is the same.
This warning clearly applies to those who teach a message different than the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-9) - those who twist the Scriptures to teach falsehoods and lead people away from God (2 Peter 3:16). Such false teachers must be “noted” and “avoided.”
But this warning also refers back to what Paul taught in Romans 14 about matters of opinion and scruple. If someone kept pressing matters of opinion and scruple so that they were causing division and trouble in the church, they too were to be “noted” and “avoided.”
The trouble in this section is either divisiveness over something which isn’t fundamental or it is basic false doctrine being pressed among the saints. In either case the culprits are to be marked (kept under careful scrutiny). It is just as wicked to promote division over little things as it is to teach basic false teaching. Fragmenting the Body of Christ is criminal. - McGuiggan, Romans, 430
These individuals don’t serve the Lord Jesus Christ - they serve themselves and their own desires (Philippians 3:19). They deceive the innocent with smooth, flattering words. McGuiggan pointed out that these individuals are like spiritual “child molesters” because they seek out the innocent (Romans, 432).
Paul very likely has in mind when the serpent tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7). The statement about God crushing Satan underfoot (Genesis 3:15) provides additional evidence that Paul’s warning is rooted in what the devil did to Adam and Eve.
Be wise in what’s good, and innocent concerning evil.
Paul was confident in the Christians in Rome - he knew they were obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ, and he rejoiced in this. He appears very cautious about accusing anyone in Rome of the kind of behavior he warned them about at the beginning of this section.
In my opinion, this probably means the Christians in Rome were not presently dealing with people who were doing what Paul warned them about. He just wanted them to be prepared for if/when it happened. Paul had seen the damage these folks caused in other places (like the churches of Galatia, Corinth, Colosse, etc.), and he didn’t want to see that happen in Rome.
Paul wanted them to “be wise in what is good (Matthew 23:34; 1 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:15), and innocent concerning evil.”
[These words] are words of encouragement that the Roman Christians, as wise persons, could more than handle the clever, flattering eloquence of the false teachers. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 599
The God of peace will decisively win the battle.
Paul’s use of the words “peace” and “crush” together is quite an eye-opening picture.
[The Greek word for crush - syntribō] is attested from the fifth century B.C. with the meaning to “break,” “smash,” or “destroy” and is “used for breaking bones or smashing limbs, skulls, or entire bodies of men…in battle.” The false teachers were aligned with Satan and his seed, but they would be dealt with by the all powerful God of peace, who desired that all people live in peace. Those who disrupt the peace He intended for the church would face the consequences! - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 599
Those who disrupt and destroy the peace among God’s people - the church - will ultimately be crushed and those who are faithful to Him will be given victory through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).
This is an encouraging message to the Christians in Rome to keep doing what’s right, and God would be with them and protect them.
