Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. NOW I BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISIONS AND OFFENCES CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE WHICH YE HAVE LEARNED - `which ye learned;' AND AVOID THEM. The fomenters of "divisions" who are here meant are probably those who were unfriendly to the truths taught in this letter; while those who caused "offences" were probably those referred to in , as haughtily disregarding the prejudices of the weak. The direction as to both is, first, to "mark" such, lest the evil should be done before it was fully discovered; and next, to "avoid" them (cf. ;...

17._And I beseech you, etc. _He now adds an exhortation, by which all Churches have often need of being stirred up; for the ministers of Satan are ever ready to take occasion to disturb the kingdom of Christ: and they attempt to make disturbances in two ways; for they either sow discord, by which the minds of men are drawn away from the unity of truth, or they occasion offenses, by which men are alienated from the love of the gospel. (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. He therefore bids all, who did either of these two things, to be observed, lest they should deceive and catch the unwary; and also to be shunned, for they were injurious. Nor was it without reason that he required this attention from the faithful; for it often happens through our neg...

17-20 How earnest, how endearing are these exhortations! Whatever differs from the sound doctrine of the Scriptures, opens a door to divisions and offences. If truth be forsaken, unity and peace will not last long. Many call Christ, Master and Lord, who are far from serving him. But they serve their carnal, sensual, worldly interests. They corrupt the head by deceiving the heart; perverting the judgments by winding themselves into the affections. We have great need to keep our hearts with all diligence. It has been the common policy of seducers to set upon those who are softened by convictions. A pliable temper is good when under good guidance, otherwise it may be easily led astray. Be so wise as not to be deceived, yet so simple as not to be deceivers. The blessing the apostle expects from God, is victory over Satan. This includes all designs and devices of Satan against souls, to defi...

Verse 17. _MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISIONS_] Several MSS. read ασφαλως σκοπειτε, _look sharply after them_; let _them_ have no kiss of charity nor peace, because they strive to make _divisions_, and thus set the flock of Christ at variance among themselves; and from these _divisions, offences_ (σκανδαλα, _scandals_) are produced; and this is contrary to that doctrine of _peace, unity_, and _brotherly love which you have_ learned. _Look sharply_ after such that they do you no evil, _and avoid them_-give them no countenance, and have no religious fellowship with them....

NOW I BESEECH YOU - One great object of this Epistle had been to promote “peace” between the Jewish and Gentile converts. So much did this subject press upon the mind of the apostle, that he seems unwilling so leave it. He returns to it again and again; and even after the Epistle is apparently concluded, he returns to it, to give them a new charge on the subject. MARK THEM - Observe attentively, cautiously, and faithfully Philippians 3:17; be on your guard against them. Ascertain “who are” the real causes of the divisions that spring up, and avoid them. WHICH CAUSE - Who make. Probably he refers here to “Jewish” teachers, or those who insisted strenuously on the observance of the rites of Moses, and who set up a claim for greater purity and orthodoxy than those possess

EXPOSITION ROMANS 16:1 K. _Commendation of Phoebe, and salutations to Christians at Rome._ ROMANS 16:1, ROMANS 16:2 I COMMEND UNTO YOU PHOEBE OUR SISTER (_i.e. _fellow-Christian), WHO IS A SERVANT OF THE CHURCH THAT IS IN CENCHREA: THAT YE RECEIVE HER IN THE LORD, WORTHILY OF THE SAINTS, AND ASSIST HER (παραστῆτε_, _literally, _stand by her_)_ _IN WHATSOEVER BUSINESS SHE HATH NEED OF YOU: FOR SHE TOO HATH BEEN A SUCCOURER (προστάτις_, _corresponding to παραστῆτε)_ _OF MANY, AND OF MINE OWN SELF. This Phoebe wa

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. The men he would have taken notice of were such who divided them...

CHAPTER 16 _ 1. Greetings to Individuals. (Romans 16:1 .)_ 2. Warning and Comfort. (Romans 16:17 .) 3. The Final Salutations. (Romans 16:21 .) 4. The Conclusion. (Romans 16:25 .) Romans 16:1 Phoebe (which means “radiant”) is first mentioned. She was probably a person of great influence and wealth, for she had been a succorer of many, including the Apostle. She is heartily commended to the assembly in Rome, to be received in the Lord, worthily of the Saints. Then that interesting pair of fellow workers of

A POSTSCRIPT OF ADMONITION. Romans 16:17. Supposing the paragraph in its right place (see Introd. § 4), it would seem that Paul, in glancing over his letter and thinking of the troubles of other churches (Romans 16:16), feels that he has not written strongly enough about those that are causing divisions and appends a warning postscript, somewhat in the fashion of Galatians 6:11. Romans 16:18_ a._ Such as these are bondmen to their own belly, is paralleled in Php_3:18 f.; the phrase the Lord Christ Paul uses elsewhere only in...

A LETTER OF COMMENDATION (Romans 16:1-2)...