There is the word we have translated untainted with what is evil. My Prayer Father, I pray that, like Paul, I will boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ to all with whom I come in contact. The discovery is made that the source of the internal misery was that the mind, though renewed, was occupied with the law as a means of dealing with, flesh. I'm dumb in the things that are evil. It is the going forth of His richest blessing. There is also a cemetery of Priscilla. Wise leaders, however, will not be deceived by flattering speech. Romans 13:1-14; Romans 13:1-14 urges their duties towards what was outside them, more particularly to the powers that be, but also to men in general. First of all the apostle points out that death has come in, and that this was no consequence of law, but before it. These include his secretary Tertius and his host Gaius (21-24; cf. Thus, having shown the Gentile in Romans 1:1-32 manifestly wrong, and hopelessly degraded to the last degree having laid bare the moral dilettantism of the philosophers, not one whit better in the sight of God, but rather the reverse having shown the Jew overwhelmed by the condemnation of the divine oracles in which he chiefly boasted, without real righteousness, and so much the more guilty for his special privileges, all now lies clear for bringing in the proper Christian message, the. The Gospel: God's Power to Save Everyone (16) A. He was a Jew, from far-off Cyrene in North Africa. [Note: See Ted G. Kitchens, "Perimeters of Corrective Church Discipline," Bibliotheca Sacra 148:590 (April-June 1991):205-7. The former is the direction, and the latter the application. 17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. Nothing less, I am persuaded, than this full blessing is the line that God has given to those who have followed Christ without the camp, and who, having been set free from the contracted ways of men, desire to enter into the largeness and at the same time the profound wisdom of every word of God. Abraham is the proof of the value of faith in justification before God. Hence, therefore, it was in no way limited to any particular nation, such as those that had already been under the law and government of God. Then, from ver. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. Thither He shall come, and thence, go forth. Finally he comes to two other witnesses; as from the Psalms, so now from the law and the prophets. It was undoubtedly enough for present purposes. He deals with the Jew from his own Scripture (verses 9-19). - CBSC. But this does not content the apostle, or rather the Spirit of God; for he goes on to point out that Isaiah "is very bold" in a similar way; that is, there is no concealing the truth of the matter. 19 For the report of yo. If they have, it seems likely that Paul would have addressed them more directly and in more detail in the body of the letter. It is rather to be applied to the victory which all the saints shall have over Satan when they come to heaven, and shall be for ever out of his reach, together with the present victories which through grace they obtain in earnest of that. No wonder that he is issuing a warning to the believers to hold fast to the truth they know and protect it at all costs. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark those which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them ( Romans 16:17 ). First among these were Pauls loyal friends, Aquila and Priscilla. What gives glory to God like this? The people involved in the wrongdoing may or may not have pretended to serve (douleuo) the Lord (verse 18). Greet each other with the kiss that God's dedicated people use. But did this satisfy the apostle? This is a state of mind, and not the necessary or immediate fruit of Romans 3:1-31, but is based on the truth of Romans 4:1-25 as well as 3. Because they were sons of Abraham. 3:19.. Prolongation from a primary verb, another form of which, matheo, is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn. Romans 16:17. doctrine which ye have learned. He had lived always as a private individual and had inherited none of Herod's domains; but he was a close friend of the Emperor Claudius. It is God Himself who, infinitely glorified in the Lord that expiated our sins by His one sacrifice, remits them now, not looking for our victory, nor as yet even in leading us on to victory, but by faith in Jesus and His blood. If God had absolutely cast away His people, would there be such mercy? It is the thing which troubles a renewed conscientious soul above all, because of his surprise at finding the deep evil of the flesh and its mind after having proved the great grace of God in the gift of Christ. When a stranger comes amongst us, Paul's advice still holds good--welcome such a one as God's dedicated people ought to welcome each other. First, he raises the question, "Has God cast away his people?" Romans 16King James Version. God has condemned the flesh. He made his fortune from the fact that people paid him large bribes to make sure that their petitions did reach the Emperor. God is revealing a righteousness of His own in the gospel. (iv) It is a gospel which is meant for all men and which was always meant for all men. On both sides therefore the apostle is meeting the grand points he had at heart to demonstrate from their own Scriptures. Steer clear of them. This, however, will be put to the test by-and-by. Death, and nothing short of it, rightly dissolves the bond. | BibleRef.com Romans Chapter Romans 16:18 ESV For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Greet the church that is in their house. "At any rate he is a saved soul," we hear. Cranfield observes it is not true that the context gives no explanation of the introduction of these verses here: For the injunction to greet one another with a holy kiss contains in itself an implicit warning against those things which are liable to destroy the churchs peace and against the unholy kisses of those who would attach themselves to the churchs fellowship while remaining all the time alien from it in doctrine or life (379). Paul tells the Roman church to do that, "Salute one another with a holy kiss, or greet one another with a holy kiss. The question then is raised in the beginning ofRomans 3:1-31; Romans 3:1-31, If this be so, what is the superiority of the Jew? Far from denying or obscuring what they boasted of, he goes beyond them "Who are Israelites," says he, "to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all God blessed for ever." It is not here believing on Jesus, but on God who has proved what He is to us in raisin, from among the dead Him who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification (verses 13-25). "And," said the angel, "what have you done that they should all know?" Serve is the same term used in the Sermon on the Mount (Jesus said a man cannot serve two masters, Matthew 6:24), and here it is a present tense verb. 16:5-11 Give my greetings to my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. How could the Jews say that this meant themselves? False teachers were a danger to all the churches. I want you to be wise in what is good, and untainted with what is evil. All the Churches of Christ send you greetings. To whom, then, did the law address itself? to deal with the whole posterity of Adam as involved in death because of one, their common father, who could deny the consistency of one man's saving? Give my greetings to Persis, the beloved, who has toiled hard in the Lord. It was undeniable that the Gentiles did not seek the Lord, nor ask after Him; and the prophet says that Jehovah was found of them that sought Him not, and was made manifest to them that asked not after Him. Simple (akeraios) is found only here, Matthew 10:16 and Philippians 2:15 (it is rendered harmless in both of the other places). Alas! The righteousness of God means that God is just, while at the same time He justifies the believer in Christ Jesus. And what led to the call of Abraham, of whom we hear much in the epistle to the Romans as elsewhere, was the departure of man into idolatry. All Israel shall be saved. Religious error destroys both those who teach it and those who adhere to it (Matthew 15:14). While it has a good sense in Philippians 3:17, here it means to fix ones eyes upon, direct ones attention to (Thayer, p. 579). Let us not stumble at the starting-point, but leave room for the due extent and depth of "salvation" in the gospel. The church is to turn away from such men. The condition of the Roman saints called for a setting forth of the gospel of God; but this object, in order to be rightly understood and appreciated, leads the apostle into a display of the condition of man. 3. I don't need some new great revelation from God. This term (exapatao) is used in the LXX to describe the enticement of Samson (Judges 14:15; Judges 16:5). It is obvious that Rufus is a choice spirit and a man well-known for saintliness in the Roman Church; and it is equally obvious that Paul felt that he owed a deep debt of gratitude to the mother of Rufus for the kindness he had received from her. Of it nothing has been heard till now. It is exquisite the delicate love with which he singles out distinctive features in each of the saints, men and women, that come before him. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. The passage closes with a most suggestive thing. He was consul of Rome in A.D. 91 which was the highest office Rome could offer him; and it seems extremely likely that he died a martyr's death as a Christian. No wonder, if souls confound the two things together, that they never know deliverance in practice. There is no language where their voice is not heard. So we find the Corinthian epistle extremely interesting epistle as he deals with the various issues that had cropped up, the various practices that had cropped up in Corinth and as he seeks to correct these abuses. The man had obviously little of the love of Christ upon him. Be it so then; it was a foolish nation by which Moses declared they should be angered. If this is the correct explanation, it means those involved with leading others astray would be crushed. But this great work of Christ was not and could not be a mere vindication of God; and we may find it otherwise developed in various parts of Scripture, which I here mention by the way to show the point at which we are arrived. This may refer to the material in chapters 14 and 15. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Here there are two great summaries. 16:1-2 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the Church which is in Cenchreae. Answer From faith to faith is an expression found in some versions of Romans 1:17, such as the King James Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the Christian Standard Bible. Was Simon one of the men from Cyrene? He could not have remitted heretofore. Proud member This accordingly leads the apostle into the earlier portion of his great argument, and first of all in a preparatory way. Divisions - Dissensions; parties; factions; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Galatians 5:20. But these parallels are not exact; for the present passage seems to be specially a caution to individual Christians, not to go as learners to the erring teachers. for he knew well what poor creatures men were. They too should live. How the resentment must have blazed in his heart! He has sent his greetings; but before he closes he makes one last appeal to the Christians in Rome to keep themselves from every evil influence. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. These false teachers are skilled in the artful device of "smooth and fair speech," a common trait among those intent on corrupting the purity and simplicity of the gospel. "Do they all know about what you did for them?" Was it they who took the first tremendous step to make Christianity the faith of a whole world? It will be fun to meet them when we get to heaven. Romans 1:1-32. And as for their mother--surely she in some hour of need must have brought to Paul the help and the comfort and the love which his own family refused him when he became a Christian. The person who took this letter to Rome was Phoebe, a woman well respected for her work in the church in Cenchreae, one of the seaports of Corinth. Psalms 19:1-14 is used in the most beautiful manner to insinuate that the limits are the world. MacKnight offers an intriguing explanation on who this may have referred to: The apostle had in his eye the Jewish teachers, who in many churches set up separate assemblies for the worship of God, (see Jude, ver. Five verses of names and of greetings--but they open vistas which thrill the heart! It was not merely better light in the conscience, which might be elsewhere, as is supposed in the early verses of our chapter; but the Jew's position was directly and unquestionably one of divine tests applied to man's estate. To man this is the hardest of all obedience; but when once secured, it leads peacefully into the obedience of every day. In the gospel there is revealed God's righteousness. There were both Jews and Gentiles, and some, such as Junias and Andronicus, were prominent Christian workers (6-11). Paul became increasingly aware that after his departure, the enemy would not only seek to divide the Church through false teachers and demonic doctrines, but would also use internal dissentions and disunity to, cause havoc and distress among Christians and. Who was this Rufus? We all know where it is and must be for the Christian. Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural. Now there is another way to translate this as those who don't like that idea translate it the other way. The first of these phrases, "from faith," excludes the law; the second, "to faith," includes every one that has faith within the scope of God's righteousness. I was frightened, and I said, 'Who are you?' I don't know and I don't care. What the law says, it speaks to those under it. There is no need of dwelling now on "salvation" as employed in the Old Testament, and in some parts of the New, as the gospels and Revelation particularly, where it is used for deliverance in power or even providence and present things. Context. This is the essential point. ], "If Paul had one particular group [of false teachers] in mind, we cannot be at all certain which it was. Amen. (i) Of the twenty-four, six are women. But just to go laying your trip on people when it hasn't had any fruit in your own life causes me to wonder, "Do I need to have that same understanding that you have? Claudius had issued an edict in A.D. 52 banishing the Jews. He begins with the great epoch of the dispensations of God (that is, the ages since the flood). False teachers and destructive doctrines infiltrating the Body of Christ was the biggest danger about which all the apostles warned in their letters, and in Acts 20 we read thatPaul knew thatvicious wolves would come into the Church, twist the truth, and scatter the flock of God after his death. Isaiah says: "I was found of them who sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me." But whether they have or not, Paul is well aware of the existence of such heretics and the damage they could wreak on a congregation. Let us begin with the facts about them of which we are sure. In Jesus' name. and advises them to take heed of those which cause dissension and offenses; and after various salutations ends with praise and thanks to God. Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural. It is some base lust or other that they are pleasing; pride, ambition, covetousness, luxury, lasciviousness, these are the designs which they are really carrying on. In heaven it will fill us perfectly; but there is no more perfect joy there, nor anything. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. The gospel is a power which enables a man to stand foursquare against the shocks of the world and the assaults of temptation. Therefore it is here for the first time that we find salvation spoken of in the grand results that are now brought before us in Romans 5:1-11. Paul pleads with his readers to do two things: 1) watch out and 2) avoid. To shun it: "Avoid them. It was men from Cyprus and Cyrene who came to Antioch and first preached the gospel to the Gentile world ( Acts 11:20). The man who, being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, or Christian baptism, would assert any license to sin because it is in his nature, as if it were therefore an inevitable necessity, denies the real and evident meaning of his baptism. They are the sort to beguile the hearts of the innocent. Justification is not from works of law. The abruptness of Pauls interjection, however, may be greatly exaggerated. This was no question of legal obedience, although the law came from Jehovah. 2. In it lies buried Acilius Glabrio. Only in Him is there life and light, hope and love. 16:21-23 Timothy, my fellow-worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. The open door, the open hand, and the open heart are characteristics of the Christian life. He asks the people at Rome to welcome her as God's dedicated people ought to welcome each other. Thus the deliverance is not merely for the joy of the soul, but also for strength in our walking after the Spirit, who has given and found a nature in which He delights, communicating withal His own delight in Christ, and making obedience to be the joyful service of the believer. Others (Whiteside 296, Murray Vol. But observe, that he speaks of those who had been taught the pure truth of God. And to this agreed the testimony of the prophet. There. As he brings his long and instructive Roman epistle to a close, the one message Paulwas prompted to leave with these dear people was about discord among the saints, Drifting from biblical truth into apostasy or the deliberate infiltration of heretical teachings are a serious problem in any Christian fellowship, but let us never forget that they are oftenspawned from internal disagreements, division, and disunity and. What then? And this leads the apostle into the moral history of man the proof both of his inexcusable guilt, and of his extreme need of redemption. Now observe his description of them, in two things:-- (1.) Finally he brings in Isaiah, showing that, far from retaining their blessing as an unbroken people, a remnant alone would be saved. Mark them means "identify them," "watch out for them," and "be on your guard against them." From the first verse we have the application of the dead and risen Christ to the soul, till in verse 11 we see the power of the Holy Ghost, which brings the soul into this liberty now, applied by-and-by to the body, when there will be the complete deliverance. There the truth is held, and apparently with firmness too. 16:17-20: 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. It contains four sections: his greetings to specific people in Rome, a quick and urgent warning about the danger of false teachers, greetings from those who are with him in Corinth, and a final hymn of praise to God called a doxology. This is the first ground. From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. I would like to experience more of what is in the Word, rather than going to extra scriptural experiences. avoid them -- A peaceable but effective way of resistance.Cp. The church is to withdraw fellowship from them. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. If Aristobulus really is the Aristobulus who was the grandson of Herod, and if Narcissus really is the Narcissus who was Cladius' secretary, this means that many of the slaves at the imperial court were already Christians. The Jews were the last in the world to take such ground as this. For all this, as he presses further, there was the weightiest reason possible. In fact the two sons of Flavius Clemens and Domatilla had been designated Domitian's successors in the imperial power. Then your principle is your condemnation. That must have been a terrible day for Simon. I thank God that we have all that we desire and thus, I feel that I am extremely rich. Social distinctions did not exist. The believer, whosoever he might be, should not be ashamed. The quickening power of God therefore was here set forth, of course historically in a way connected with this life and a posterity on earth, but nevertheless a very just and true sign of God's power for the believer the quickening energy of God after a still more blessed sort. (17) Cause divisions and offences.--Set traps in the way of the unwary, so as to entice them into false doctrine and schismatical practices. For other key places where learned (manthano) is found, see Matthew 11:29; John 6:45; Ephesians 4:20; Philippians 4:9; 1 Timothy 2:11. I think that that is only fair. From the home of Prisca and Aquila, wherever it was, radiated friendship and fellowship and love. "Yes," said the minister. higher, if so high, in this epistle. It is not here a question of how a man is to be saved, but of God's indispensable moral judgment, which the gospel, instead of weakening asserts according to the holiness and truth of God. From ek and klino; to deviate, i.e. Romans 16:16. It is no longer a question of man's guilt, but of his nature. They were known as sustatikai ( G4956) epistolai ( G1992) , letters of commendation or introduction. Some day people will sum us up in one sentence. To what Church, then, did Mark write his gospel? For what remains unsolved by and in Christ? or who hath been his counsellor? Was it they who helped the Church burst the bonds of Judaism? commends unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church which is in Cenchrea ( Romans 16:1 ): She was a deaconess. We have a great need therefore to keep our hearts with all diligence, especially when seducing spirits are abroad. And I will confess to you, I am extremely leery of any extra scriptural experience. Paul became increasingly aware that after his departure, the enemy would not only seek to divide the Church through false teachers and demonic doctrines, but would also use internal dissentions and disunity to cause havoc and distress among Christians anddivide the Body of Christ. The apostles in this sense were people whom the Church sent out to tell the story of Jesus at large. Those who were creating the problems served themselves. Now that God has revealed Himself in the gospel, it is not what will suit man on earth, but what is worthy of the presence of the glory of God. The Christian privilege is to appropriate the good news for ourselves; the Christian duty is to transmit that good news to others. He shall come, says one Testament, out of Zion. Verse of the Day , Romans 16:17 Treasury of Scripture Knowing, Gods Crazy World - Mans Nature and Destiny (27). He had, no doubt, in view, what he noticed in chapter 14, about eating and observing of days; and according to his usual manner he mentions first the effect divisions, and then the cause offenses. The Gentile Christians, by eating, gave offense to the believing Jews, and this offense led to a division or separation. The Greeks themselves defined a chrestologos (see G5542) as "a man who speaks well and who acts ill." He is the kind of man who, behind a facade of pious words, is a bad influence, who leads astray, not by direct attack, but by subtlety, who pretends to serve Christ, but in reality is destroying the faith. In either case, Paul knew the great damage caused when conflict and strife is allowed to permeate the Christian Church. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? 2 235). He was "declared," says the apostle, "to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" ( , ver. - CBSC, Doctrinal falsehood and unrighteous practices (cf. Hence, as God's wrath is revealed from heaven, it is against every form of impiety "against all ungodliness." naming that of which he had formerly been a member. 5. The enemy of God is the same evil one that comes to steal our peace, kill our hope, accuse the saints, and destroy our, but also as an angel of light, and just as individual members of the Church in Rome, those who caused division within their own congregation and turn away from them - we too should, to address disunity within our own churches and quickly deal with. That is a wisely simple man that knows not how to do any thing against the truth. She was the grand-daughter of Vespasian, a former Emperor, and the niece of Domitian the reigning Emperor. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. The household of Aristobulus may also be a phrase with an interesting history. The churches of Christ greet you.". The titles he gives to God: The God of peace, the author and giver of all good. This would be interesting too to find out who was right in the interpreting of this woman.So then Paul sends his greetings to these others, names that were meaningful, no doubt, in the church in Rome, but really don't mean anything to us. With the coming of Jesus something unique happened, eternity invaded time and God emerged on earth. The man whose conduct is a bad example, whose influence is an evil snare, whose teaching dilutes or emasculates the Christian faith which he pretends to teach, will someday bear his own punishment; and it will not be light, for Jesus was stern to any man who caused one of his little ones to stumble. All we have to do is blab it and grab it.'" "I am not ashamed," etc. The day hastens when the Redeemer shall come to Zion. This is what made the gospel to be so sweet and precious, and, what is more, absolutely necessary, if he would escape certain and eternal ruin. Such a connection, however, seems unlikely for at least these five discernible reasons: 1. Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth of Your Word. To have come so far to sit at the glory of the Passover and to have had this dreadful and shameful thing happen! Let people make peace their prime object; resolve to love all who are Christians, and it will be an infallible guage by which to measure the arguments of those who seek to promote alienations and contentions. Then the domains of flesh and Spirit are brought before us: the one characterized by sin and death practically now; the other by life, righteousness, and peace, which is, as we saw, to be crowned finally by the resurrection of these bodies of ours. regard. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. The prophets, perhaps scarcely knowing what they were saying, had their hints and forecasts of a time when all men of all nations would know God. Let this quicken us to our spiritual conflict, to fight the good fight of faith--we have to do with a conquered enemy, and the victory will be perfect shortly. The gospel at its height in no wise weakens but maintains the moral manifestation of what God is. For information about the word obedience (hupakoe), see the commentary on 1:5. Such is the doctrine and the fact. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealeda righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[ a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."[ b] Because of the promise of God, that we shall have victory at last, which is given to quicken and encourage, not to supersede, our watchful cares and vigorous endeavours. Sad experience witnesses how many who have begun to ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, have fatally split upon this rock, which proves it to be much the duty of ministers, with a double care, to feed the lambs of the flock, to lay a good foundation, and gently to lead those that are with young. This glorious mystery, really, of the gospel of grace coming to the Gentiles, Christ indwelling us, our hope of glory. The end of Paul's letter to the Romans includes three different sections that could each function as a conclusion. Nothing can be more simple and essential. It was a separation of true brethren from false; and without a reformation, it was final (463). By paying careful attention to vv. So something that perhaps you have never considered that there is a possibility that there were women apostles as well as men. After completing his list of greetings, he jumps back into some last-minute instructions before transitioning into a doxology and fully bringing the letter to a close. It is for the saints to learn, of course; but it is that which goes out in its own force and necessary aim to the need of man a divine righteousness, which justifies instead of condemning him who believes. I confine myself to its doctrinal import, and the full Christian sense of the word; and I maintain that salvation signifies that deliverance for the believer which is the full consequence of the mighty work of Christ, apprehended not, of course, necessarily according to all its depth in God's eyes, but at any rate applied to the soul in the power of the Holy Ghost. Greet Mary ( Romans 16:5-6 ). Almost certainly here we find Rufus again, the son of that Simon who carried the Cross of Jesus. New Living Translation His coming was the event to which all history was working up and the event from which all subsequent history flows. No apostle had ever yet visited Rome. As city prefect Flavius Sabinus must have been Nero's executive officer in that persecution. Keep away from them. That act denoted not even the washing away of our sins by the blood of Jesus, which would not apply to the case, nor in any adequate way meet the question of nature. All the world was guilty before God. In both parts, as it may be observed, the door is opened to the Gentile. Salute one another with a holy kiss. In Romans 14:1-23 and the beginning ofRomans 15:1-33; Romans 15:1-33 we have the delicate theme of Christian forbearance in its limits and largeness. 16:12-16 Give my greetings to Tryphaena and Tryphosa who toil in the Lord. What does Romans 16:17 mean? Even though Paul was through with the farewells he had a little more to say. The English Standard Version uses the wording "from faith for faith" instead. When he died his servants and slaves would become the property of the Emperor, but they would form a section of his establishment known as the household of Aristobulus. Did Gentiles believe? The apostle has come now to the nature. You must carefully guard against the notion of its being a question of Paul's own experience, because he says, "I had not known," "I was alive," etc. [Note: Cranfield, 2:802.]. "If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by [or because of] his Spirit that dwelleth in you.". But the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against them pre-eminently. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers . (480) The former evil is done when the truth of God is mixed with new dogmas devised by men; and the latter takes place, when by various arts it is made odious and contemptible. To hold the truth in unrighteousness would be no security. Be wise concerning that which is good, but be simple concerning that which is evil. Thus does he insinuate their commendation, the better to make way for the caution. 3. The answer is found in this portion of our epistle (that is, from the middle of chapter 5). There could be but one satisfactory answer. The Gospel Saves Everyone Who Believes (16b) II. A journalist relates a great incident of the Spanish Civil War. How it has benefited your own walk and made you more in the image of Christ, walking in love. Though he had never visited Rome, many of them were known personally. There is then the solemn truth also of divine wrath. "Well." Is it possible that thirty years before he died for Christ, the young Flavius Clemens had seen the dauntless courage of the martyrs and wondered what made men able to die like that? It is not a question of His mercy merely; for this weakens the truth immensely, and perverts its character wholly. It is not in any degree settled as to itself by His blood. (ii) There is an even more romantic possibility. In Italy you kiss on either cheek when you greet them, and you kiss them on the cheek. It was then that Nero ordered the Christians to be rolled in pitch and set alight to form living torches for his gardens, to be sewn into the skins of wild beasts and flung to savage hunting dogs, to be shut up in ships which were sunk in the Tiber. Did they venture to plead that it must be not only the same father, but the same mother? 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. In vain will you preach Romans 3:1-31, or even 4 alone, for souls to know themselves consciously and holily set free. Again Paul introduced his comments with a strong exhortation (cf. Lucius may be the Lucius of Cyrene, who was one of the prophets and teachers of Antioch who first sent Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys ( Acts 13:1). If one is a stranger in a strange town or a strange land, one of the most valuable things in the world is to have a home from home into which to go. What Does Romans 16:17 Mean? There we find Christian knowledge as to the matter introduced; but still it is the knowledge of one who is not in this state pronouncing on one who is. The man who has brought strife to any band of brothers will answer for it some day to him who is the King and Head of the Church. If he was called, so were they he an apostle, they not apostles but saints; but still, for them as for him, all flowed out of the same mighty love, of God. (ii) They are men who put hindrances in the way of others. It is not God having an earthly centre, and the peoples doming up to worship the Lord in Jerusalem. Murray, however, wisely observes: These two viewpoints (antinomian libertines and Judaizing teachersAWB) though apparently antagonistic are in reality an ultimate effect closely related. Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began ( Romans 16:23-25 ). A famous story tells how Jesus, after the Cross and the Resurrection, returned to his glory, still bearing the marks of his sufferings. (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. "But if [for so it should be read] thou art named a Jew," etc. This was long before the days when there was any such thing as a church building; and the home of Prisca and Aquila served as a meeting place for a group of Christian folk. The leaven of Christianity had reached the highest circles in the Empire. Thayers definition (p. 607) is also quite good: to put Satan under foot and (as a conqueror) trample on him. Religious victory would come to these Christians and it would come shortly (tachos). There we read of one Simon a Cyrenian who was compelled to carry the Cross of Jesus on the road to Calvary; and he is described as the father of Alexander and Rufus. Beguile (deceive, KJV) is applied to Eve in 2 Corinthians 11:3. 21). But he meets their proud exclusiveness in another way. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.". So they had first been in Rome, no doubt had a business in Rome, but when Claudius began to persecute the Jews, they left Rome and came to Corinth. Ro). Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, whom also were in Christ before me ( Romans 16:7 ). A brother near or remote. But after the flood man as such was put under certain conditions the whole race. Here was the very truth that every Jew, as such, denied. The wisdom of the serpent becomes Christians, but not the subtlety of the old serpent. And so the long argument of the letter to the Romans comes to an end in a song of praise. Not thus does God deal with souls. God pronounces against the unrighteousness of such; for if the knowledge, however exact, of God's revealed mind was accompanied by no renewal of the heart, if it was without life towards God, all must be vain. He teaches them, 1. A soul may as truly, no doubt, be put into relationship with God be made very happy, it may be; but it is not what Scripture calls "peace with God." they by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple ( Romans 16:18 ). There is another Rufus, it could be the same Rufus, the son of Simon the Cyrene who was compelled to bear the cross of Jesus. They are merely persons who plume themselves on their orthodoxy, but in a wholly unrenewed condition. When such is the case, the believer must stand on the side of truth and "let the chips fall where they may." There is entrance into favour, and nothing but favour. The ship that is known to be richly laden is most exposed to privateers. It became simply a question whether, in fact, God did call Gentiles, or whether He had revealed such intentions. For they are such who serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own desires ( Romans 16:18 ); I do believe that it is incumbent to that minister, servant of God who is living from the ministry, I believe that it is incumbent upon him to live a very simple life. He was the promised Messiah, born King of the Jews. - NIVZSB. Did the Jews take the ground of exclusively having that word of God the law? Any man who does anything which disturbs the peace of a church has much to answer for. The righteousness of God flows from His mercy, of course; but its character and basis is righteousness. His witness to our spirit is this, that we are children of God. , Observe and point them out for the caution of others. This accordingly leads, as connected with the deliverance of the body, to the inheritance we are to possess. So both ministers of the Gospel, and members of churches, should not be asleep, which is the opportunity false teachers take to sow the seeds of false doctrine, discord, and contention, but should watch, and be upon their guard, and look diligently, that none among them fail of, or fall from, the doctrine of grace, or any root of bitterness, error, or heresy as well as immorality, spring up, which may be troublesome, and defile others; they should observe, and take notice of such who are busy to spread false doctrine, should watch their motions, follow them closely, take them to an account, examine their principles according to the word of God; and if found to be contrary thereunto, note them as false teachers: and avoid them; shun their ministry, drop attendance on it, depart far from them, have no private conversation with them, receive them not into their houses, nor bid them God speed; with such do not eat, have no communion with them at the Lord's table, withdraw from them as disorderly persons, who act contrary to the doctrine and order of the Gospel, and after proper admonition reject them from all fellowship with you. In Rome for long there had lived a grandson of Herod the Great whose name was Aristobulus. All we have to do is claim it. - MSB, people who cause divisions: Paul had trouble with divisive false teachers elsewhere (see Galatians, Colossians, 1 Timothy), so he warned the Roman church about this danger. 19), on pretence of greater orthodoxy and sanctity than others, and who would admit none into their communion but such as joined them in their peculiarities, and who represented all others as erroneous and impious. He had cautioned them before against simplicity: now they, being conscious of their own great weakness and folly, might think, "How shall we evade and escape these snares that are laid for us? There was a most important trial of man in the person of Adam; but after this, what dispensation was there? I think that the servant of God should live a simple life. The shedding of His blood was absolutely necessary: without that precious expiation all else had been vain and impossible. In point of fact, as he had hinted before, their true tenure was the call of God, who was free, if He pleased, to bring in other people. CLICK VERSE To go directly to that verse Romans 8:1 Romans 8:2 Romans 8:3 Romans 8:4 Romans 8:5 Romans 8:6 Romans 8:7 Romans 8:8 Romans 8:9 Romans 8:10 Romans 8:11 Romans 8:12 Romans 8:13 Romans 8:14 Romans 8:15 Romans 8:16 Romans 8:17 Romans 8:18 Romans 8:19 Romans 8:20 Romans 8:21 Romans 8:22 Romans 8:23 Romans 8:24 Romans 8:25 Romans 8:26 . D. Simple Point Outline I. A certain Mystarion, for instance, an Egyptian olive-planter, sends his servant on an errand to Stotoetis, a chief priest, and gives him a letter of introduction to take with him. Anti-semitism is no new thing, and the Jews were hated in the ancient world as they so often are today. False teachers and heretical doctrines have become an increasingly serious problem in church communities and Christian fellowships today but too often they are conceived by those who cause division and disunity - and we should be ready and willing to turn away from all who have this destructive spirit of division and discord. We must note that the peace of God is the peace of action and of victory. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you to be wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil ( Romans 16:19 ). Thus one could not fail to see these two weighty inferences: the bringing in to be God's sons of those that had not been His people, and the judgment and destruction of the great mass of His undoubted people. There is no simple mind that can evade the plain force of this last expression. Thayer (p. 582) defined it as skilled, expert (compare Hebrews 5:12-14). Is Romans 7:14-25 describing a believer or an unbeliever? A wondrous way, but most blessed! Now I beseech you, brethren The apostle being about to finish his epistle, and recollecting that he had not given this church any instructions about the false teachers, who had been the cause of all their differences and uneasiness, inserts them here; or he purposely put them in this place, amidst his salutations, that they might be taken the more notice of; and very pertinently, since nothing could more express his great affection and tender concern for them; and these instructions he delivers to them, not in an authoritative way, as he might, and sometimes did, but by way of entreaty, beseeching them, and with the kind and loving appellation of brethren, the more to engage them to attend to what he was about to say to them: mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned. Observe again, it is not victory here; for that would give place to human pride. Whatever varies from the form of sound doctrine which we have in the scriptures opens a door to divisions and offences. Paul bespeaks a welcome for Phoebe. Various people who were with Paul in Corinth join him in sending greetings. The adversary and enemy covets such a prey, therefore look to yourselves, 2 John 1:8; 2 John 1:82 John 1:8. But this may be comparatively a light question. You have to in the Greek language sort of bend it a bit to get that particular idea out of the translation, the plain understanding of the Greek is that Junia was indeed an apostle, well-noted apostle that Paul is seeking that they greet. The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation: Romans 1:16-17 John Gill | May 05, 2023 Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil. To this then the apostle comes, after having spoken of the divine favour shown himself, both when a sinner, and now in his own special place of serving the Lord Jesus. Dr. Hammond thinks the apostle refers to the Gnostics, to whom indeed the characters, given in the next verse, of those here meant, do well agree. Romans 16:17 (NASB) Picture courtesy of WikiImages - Pixabay Verse Thoughts They were now back in Rome after a time in Ephesus, and a local church met in their home (3-5; cf. It is all there. Paul, not only as a friend, but as a minister and an apostle, who had received grace for grace, thus with authority blesses them with this blessing, and repeats it, Romans 16:24; Romans 16:24. Accordingly, in chapter 2 the Holy Spirit shows us man satisfying himself with pronouncing on what is right and wrong moralizing for others, but nothing more. Beloved Epaenetus, who has toiled hard in the things that are evil is just, while at starting-point... 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