Romans chapter 16 verses 17 through 20. Closing admonition, verse 17," Now I beseech you, brothers, mark those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the teaching that you have learned and avoid them." Jesus had said," He who does not gather with me scatters. Causing division in the church is no minor sin." In Galatians, Paul labels dissensions and schisms as works of the flesh.
He goes on to say," I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Paul instructed Titus," Reject a divisive man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a one is perverted and sins, being self-condemned." Similarly, Paul tells the Romans to mark divisive persons and those who cause offenses and to avoid them. The early Christians took this counsel extremely seriously.
Ignatius writes," If anyone follows someone who makes a schism in the church, he will not inherit the kingdom of God." Irenaeus writes," God will judge those who give rise to schisms. They are destitute of the love of God, and they look to their own special advantage rather than to the unity of the church. For trifling reasons or for any kind of reason that occurs to them, they will cut in pieces and divide the great and glorious body of Christ.
In the end, they can bring about no amendment of such great importance that it could compensate for the damage arising from their schism. The Judaizers were most likely the main ones causing divisions in the church at Rome. Theodoret writes," He alludes in these words to the evil advocates of the law, whose precepts he bids them to avoid." Contrary to the teaching that you have learned, here Paul makes it clear that he is not the first to explain to them that salvation is not through the law.
They had already learned the correct teaching. For example, years before at the Council of Jerusalem, Peter had declared," Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago, God made a choice among you that by my mouth, the Gentiles should hear the Word of the gospel and believe." God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like He did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Now, therefore, why do you tempt God that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are. That declaration from the Council of Jerusalem had undoubtedly reached Rome, possibly through Peter himself. Verse 18," For those kinds of people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.
And by good words and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple." When Paul later wrote to the Philippians, he used even stronger words against the Judaizers. Beware of the dogs. Beware of the evil workers. Beware of the false circumcision.
He later told the Philippians," For many walk of whom I told you often and now tell you even weeping as the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things." So in two different letters, Paul describes the Judaizers as serving or worshipping their own bellies. These enemies of Christ use flattery to deceive the gullible. Theodoret comments," By fair speeches," Paul means flattery.
And he suggests that some had already been seduced by them, for he says they deceive the hearts of the simple. The problem with those who listen to them is not that these listeners have an evil disposition. Rather, the problem is their gullibility. Verse 19," For your obedience has spread abroad to all men. Therefore, I am glad on your behalf.
Yet I wish you to be wise to that which is good and to be innocent concerning that which is evil." Paul begins this final exhortation by commending the Romans for the fact that everyone has heard of their reputation for obedience to the gospel. Chrysostom writes," Paul uses commendation to first win them over. He points to the number of witnesses to their obedience. Yet he does not praise them for their understanding, but for their obedience.
Yet I wish you to be wise to that which is good and to be innocent concerning that which is evil." Here, Paul is echoing the words of Jesus," Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Origen points out that one of the main ways we become wise to what is good is by being thoroughly grounded in the Scriptures. He writes," Consider the peril of those who neglect training themselves in the divine scriptures." Accordingly, Paul is suggesting that some of the Romans are not thoroughly trained in Scripture.
He indicates that they may be harmless as doves, but that some of them are not wise as serpents. It is good that the Roman Christians are so ready to obey, yet they have often listened to the wrong people, perhaps meaning the Judaizers. Because some of those in the church in Rome have a reputation for being gullible, they have attracted false teachers.
Chrysostom writes," After Paul praises them, he gives them admonition." Paul is now rebuking them, but in a manner that is not explicit, he is suggesting that some of them were easily led astray. Verse 20," And the God of peace will bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." Amen. Here, Paul is not saying that the final end of Satan is at hand.
Rather, Paul is most likely saying that the Roman Christians will shortly have victory over the false teachers whom Satan is using to cause disunity. Jesus had told his disciples," Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you." Paul is saying that the Romans will soon trample on their spiritual enemies, both fleshly and supernatural.
Ambrosiaster suggests the word" shortly" refers to Paul's coming visit to Rome when he will be able to help silence the opposers.
Theodoret comments," Since Paul had commanded them to be on their guard against their enemies, he very appropriately beseeches God to confound the ultimate teacher of all snares and cast him beneath the feet of the believers." Chrysostom writes," Since Paul had spoken about those who cause divisions and offenses among them, he also mentions the God of peace so that they can feel hopeful about the eradication of these evils.
Furthermore, Paul does not say God will merely subject them, but that He will bruise them, which is a stronger expression. And Paul does not say this only about the human opposers, but he also says it about the one who is the supreme general over them, Satan. So this was both a prayer and a prophecy. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Theodoret comments," Having pointed out the enemy, Paul next points to the helper. For those who have obtained divine grace possess that power, which is invincible."