Romans 16:18

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. FOR THEY THAT ARE SUCH SERVE NOT OUR LORD [JESUS] CHRIST - `our Lord Christ' appears to be the true reading. BUT THEIR OWN BELLY - not in the grosset sense, but in the sense of 'living for low ends of their own' (compare Philippians 3:19); AND BY GOOD WORDS AND FAIR SPEECHES, [ dia (G1223) eulogias (G2129)]. These words are wanting in D* E F G, several cursives, and the Old Latin. But besides the good evidence in their layout, the omission of them is easily accounted for, as Meyer says, by homeoteleuton...

18._For they who are such, etc. _He mentions an unvarying mark, by which false prophets are to be distinguished from the servants of Christ; for they have no care for the glory of Christ, but seek the benefit of their stomach. As, however, they deceitfully crept in, and by assuming another character, concealed their own wickedness, he at the same time pointed out, in order that no one might be deceived, the arts which they adopted — that they ingratiated themselves by a bland address. The preachers of the gospel have also their courtesy and their pleasing manner, but joined with honesty, so that they neither soothe men with vain praises, nor flatter their vices: but impostors allure men by flattery, and spare and indulge their vices, that they may keep them attached to themselves. He calls those _simple _who are not cautious enough to avoid deceptions....

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 18. _THEY - SERVE NOT OUR LORD JESUS_] They profess to be apostles, but they are not apostles of CHRIST; they neither _do_ his will, nor _preach_ his _doctrine; they serve their own belly_ - they hate intruded themselves into the Church of Christ that they might get a secular support; it is for _worldly_ gain alone that they take up the profession of the ministry: they have no Divine credentials; they convert not the _heathen_ nor the _ungodly_, for they have no Divine unction; _but by good words and fair speeches_ (for they have no _miraculous_ nor _saving_ powers) _deceive the hearts_ _of the simple, perverting_ Christian _converts_, that they may get their property, and thus secure a maintenance for themselves. The Church of God has ever been troubled with such pretended _pastors_ - men who FEED _themselves_, not the _flock_; men who are too proud to beg, and too lazy to work;...

SERVE NOT - Obey not. Though they are professedly, yet they are not his real friends and followers. BUT THEIR OWN BELLY - Their own “lusts;” their own private interests; they do this to obtain support. The authors of parties and divisions, in church and state, have this usually in view. It is for the indulgence of some earthly appetite; to obtain function or property; or to gratify the love of dominion. AND BY GOOD WORDS - Mild, fair, plausible speeches; with an appearance of great sincerity, and regard for the truth; compare Col 2:4; 2 Peter 3:3. People who cause divisions commonly make great pretensions to peculiar love of truth and orthodoxy; and put on the appearance of great sincerity, sanctity, and humility....

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

FOR THEY THAT ARE SUCH SERVE NOT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,.... They do not preach him, but themselves; they do not seek the things of Christ, his honour and glory, the spread of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his kingdom and interest; they seek their own things, worldly honour and applause, riches, wealth, and grandeur; they seek to please men, and so are not the servants of Christ: they introduced the observance of meats and drinks in to the kingdom of Christ, which it do not consist of, and neglected the doctrines of righteousness and peace, from whence springs joy in the Holy Ghost, and so in these spiritual things did not serve Christ; and therefore, as they were not acceptable to God, were not to be approved of by Christian men, but to be marked and avoided: BUT THEIR OWN BELLY; which they made a god of, and devoted themselves to the service of all their views were to gratify and...

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)...