Romans 16:19

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE - your tractableness, or readiness to be led (as the close of the verse seems to show is the meaning here), IS COME ABROAD UNTO ALL. (The supplement "men" had better have been left out.) I AM GLAD THEREFORE ON YOUR BEHALF: BUT YET I WOULD HAVE YOU WISE UNTO THAT WHICH IS GOOD, AND SIMPLE - `harmless,' as in Matthew 10:16, from which the warning is taken, CONCERNING EVIL, [ eis (G1519)] - rather, 'unto evil' (as in the former clause): q.d., 'Your reputation among the churches for subjection to the teaching y...

19._Your obedience, _(481) _etc. _This is said to anticipate an objection; for he shows that he did not warn them, as though he thought unfavorably of them, but because a fall in their case was such as might have easily happened; as if he had said, — “Your obedience is indeed commended everywhere, and for this reason I rejoice on your account: yet since it often happens, that a fall occurs through simplicity, I would have you to be harmless and simple as to the doing of evil; but in doing good, to be most prudent, whenever it may be necessary, so that you may preserve your integrity.” We here see what that simplicity is which is commended in Christians; so that they have no reason to claim this distinction, who at this day count as a high virtue their stupid ignorance of the word of God. For though he approves in the Romans, that they were obedient and teachable, yet he would have them t...

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 19. _FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE IS COME ABROAD_] The apostle gives this as a reason why they should continue to hear and heed those who had led them into the path of truth, and avoid those false teachers whose doctrines tended to the subversion of their souls. _YET I WOULD HAVE YOU WISE_] I would wish you carefully to _discern_ the good from the evil, and to show your _wisdom_, by carefully avoiding the one and cleaving to the other....

FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE ... - Romans 1:8. Your mild, obedient disposition to learn, and to obey the precepts of the teachers of religion. I AM GLAD ... - I rejoice that you evince such a disposition. But he immediately adds, that “this” was just the temper to be imposed upon, and cautions them against that danger. WISE UNTO THAT WHICH IS GOOD - Evince understanding of what is adapted to promote good and worthy ends. SIMPLE CONCERNING EVIL - Greek, “harmless.” Not disposed to do wrong; having no plan and yielding to none of the allurements of evil. You have shown your wisdom in “obeying” the gospel. I would have you still evince wisdom toward “every good” design; but to be unacquainted with “any” plan of evil. Do not yield to those plans, or fo

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 YOUR OBEDIENCE IS COME ABROAD UNTO ALL MEN,.... That is, as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions render it, "the fame" and report of their obedience to the faith, to the doctrine of the Gospel, and the ministers of it, was spread everywhere, was well known to everyone, and spoken of with commendeth among all the churches in all nations: and this the apostle mentions as another reason why they should beware of false teachers, since it would be greatly to their reproach, should they, after all this, drop that form of doctrine which they had obeyed, desert the faithful ministers of the word, and follow these false teachers; should this be the case, they would be as notorious for their disobedience, as now for their obedience: and moreover, the apostle might hereby suggest, that whereas it was everywhere known how readily and at once they embraced the Gospel of Christ; this credulity and rea...

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)...