Romans 16:17-20
Final words
Paul could not resist giving a final word of
warning that they watch out for spiritual enemies: those who are
divisive and seek to hinder the Lord’s work (who put obstacles [skandala, “traps, snares”; cf. Rom_14:13] in your way that are contrary to
the teaching you have learned). This is speaking of doctrinal falsehood and
unrighteous practices.
Galatians
1:7-9 "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ." "But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed." "As we said before, so say I now again, If
any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him
be accursed."
We
can see from this Scripture that, Paul says not to fellowship with those who
would cause divisions in the church. We are not to accept any other doctrine
than that which has been established in our church.
Believers
are to keep away (pres. imper., “keep on turning away”) from such
false teachers, who were not serving (douleuousin, “serving as slaves”; cf.
Rom_14:18) Christ, but were
slaves to their own appetites (lit., “bellies”; cf. Php_3:19). They were selfish gluttons. The
problem, however, was that by smooth talk and flattery they deceived the
minds (lit., “hearts”) of naive people (akakōn, “innocent,
unsuspecting”). Anyone
who mars the unity or harmony of the local church does not serve the Lord Jesus
Christ, regardless of his claim. He puts his interest above the welfare and
interest of the local church.
Some
are driven by self interest and self gratification, often seen in their
pretentious, extravagant and immoral lifestyles.
Proverbs
14:15 "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well
to his going."
We
see in this that some simple people believe whatever is said to them. The
simple will fall for anything. Be wise, don't listen to gossip and be sure to
test the spirits.
Matthew
7:15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Paul
hastened to assure the Romans that he did not consider them naive. Their
obedience (to Christ; cf. Rom_1:5;
Rom_15:18; 1Pe_1:2)
was well known and Paul was glad for them. But he was concerned that they be
wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil (kakon). I Kings 3:9 "Give
therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may
discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a
people?"
It
takes great understanding to be able to run a church.
I
Corinthians 14:20 "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in
malice be ye children, but in understanding be men."
This
is the way to keep from being deceived by a talebearer.
Ephesians
1:15-17 "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus,
and love unto all the saints," "Cease not to give thanks for you,
making mention of you in my prayers;" "That the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of him:"
Do
not listen to talebearers, but check out all things with the word of God.
The
word for “innocent” is akeraious, “unmixed, simple, pure.” In Greek it was used
of wine that was not diluted and of metal that was not weakened in any way. The
word is used in the New Testament in only two other places: Mat_10:16 (“innocent”) and Php_2:15 (“pure”). Christians should be innocent
about evil, not following the ways of the world (Rom_12:2).
To
conclude this warning Paul added the promise, The God of peace (cf. Rom_15:33; Heb_13:20)
will soon crush Satan under your feet (cf. Gen_3:15).
This prayer of
Paul's is the same one we preachers should pray for our people. Satan is out to
destroy the church. We have no power over Satan, but the name of Jesus has
power over him, and we have been authorized to use Jesus' name. Since the third
chapter of Genesis, we have been enemies of Satan.
Genesis
3:15 'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Hebrews
2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" "And
deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage."
“Shall
bruise Satan under your feet “Shortly” The underlying imagery is found in Gen.
3:15. In freeing themselves from those who were causing division and marring
the unity of the church, they would be experiencing what Jesus will ultimately
experience when He finally defeats Satan for all eternity.
The
false teachers (Rom_16:17-18) were
under Satan’s influence, but he will be destroyed and God will establish peace
(Rev_20:1-6). Then Paul gave another
benediction (cf. Rom_15:13, Rom_15:33) about God’s grace.
Romans 16:21-24
These few verses contain personal greetings
from some of Paul’s associates: first, Timothy, my fellow worker, and
then Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. Once again these men
were not members of Paul’s family, but fellow countrymen (cf. Rom_16:7, Rom_16:10).
Timothy, who is
intended, is so close to Paul that Paul calls him his son. He is not his son in
the flesh, but in the spirit.
Acts
13:1 "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets
and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simian that was called Niger, and Lucius of
Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and
Saul."
We
see here the connection between Paul {Saul} and Lucius. Lucius was a native of
Cyrene, one of the prophets and teachers in Antioch who participated in Paul
and Barnabas’ commissioning.
Acts
13:2 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost
said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called
them." "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands
on them, they sent [them] away."
Jason
means healing. He was from Thessalonica and was one of the first converts
there, who evidently let Paul stay in his home for a short time before Paul and
Silas were sent to Berea.
Sosipater
means saver of his father. He was a Brean who joined other believers in meeting
Paul at Troas after the apostle left Ephesus.
These may
be the men of the same names mentioned elsewhere (Act_13:1;
Act_17:5-9; Act_20:4;
cf. 2Co_9:4).
Then Tertius, who was Paul’s stenographer
for this epistle, sent his greetings. So did Gaius, Paul’s host in
Corinth, who apparently had a church meeting in his home. This Gaius was
probably not the same Gaius who was from Macedonia and traveled with Paul (Act_19:29) nor the Gaius who was from Derbe (Act_20:4). The Gaius mentioned here in Romans
was probably Paul’s convert whom he baptized (1Co_1:14). Gaius was a Macedonian
who went with Paul on some of his ministering journeys. He was a convert at
Corinth. His full name was most likely “Gaius Titius Justus. He was arrested in
Ephesus.
Erastus sent greetings.
He was the city’s director of public works (lit., “the city’s steward,”
a high position in Corinth). This Erastus was from Corinth and was probably the city
treasurer (chamberlain). His name means beloved. Erastus went to Ephesus with
Paul and was sent by Paul with Timothy to Macedonia. His usual place to live
was Corinth and was there when Paul wrote this.
Paul called Quartus our brother,
undoubtedly meaning a spiritual brother, not a physical one. Quartus
may have been a physical brother of Eurastus, but more likely just the final
brother in Christ listed here. Quartus means a fourth.
Romans 16: 24
"The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ [be] with you all. Amen."This
is a benediction used by many churches even today. This is about the best blessing
that could be spoken on you.
Many
manuscripts omit this verse. It is not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts
of Romans which is understandable in view of the longer, more explicit
benediction that follows.
This letter concludes
with a beautiful doxology that praises God for His work through Jesus Christ
and thereby summarizes the major themes in Romans.
Romans 16:25-27
The apostle finally came to his closing
benediction. This letter to the Romans is Paul’s longest and most complete
statement of the message he proclaimed, what he here called my gospel
(cf. Rom_2:16; 2Ti_2:8) and the proclamation of (i.e.,
concerning) Jesus Christ. The truth of this message is the means of
spiritual life and stability, as Paul expressed his praise to God who is
able to establish you (cf. 1Pe_5:10).
Paul said that aspects of this message (e.g., Rom_11:25; 1Co_15:51;
Eph_5:32) and in a sense the total
message (cf. Eph_3:3-9; Col_1:26-27) are the mystery hidden for long
ages past, but now revealed and made known. Preaching of Jesus Christ was synonymous
with the gospel; it was Paul’s supreme life commitment. The “mystery” refers to
something hidden in former times but now made know.
Colossians
1:26-27 "[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:" "To whom God
would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"
In
the Old Testament the veil was covering the things of God. Jesus opened the way
for us to the Father when He died on the cross. It is as if He removed the
scales from our eyes and the Holy Spirit of God has revealed to us the
salvation story. We could hear it all day long, but until the Holy Spirit
reveals the meaning we are without understanding. Praise God Jesus sent the
comforter who is our teacher and guide, as well.
The message of the gospel of Christ was “hidden”
in the Old Testament, but is revealed in the New. In the prophetic writings
(of the OT; cf. Rom_1:2), given by
the command of the eternal God (1Ti_1:17),
Christ was referred to (Luk_24:44-45),
but even the prophets themselves were not fully aware of all they wrote (1Pe_1:10-12). But now in the Church Age
their writings are understood.
The goal of this “revelation of the mystery” (Rom_16:25) is that people of all
nations might believe and obey Christ (cf. Rom_1:5;
Rom_15:18; 1Pe_1:2).
God had told
Israel that He would not only call her to righteousness, but appoint her as a
light (of the gospel) to the nations.
Manifest
means to render apparent. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Luke
24:44-47 "And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were
written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms,
concerning me." “Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures," "And said unto them, Thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third
day:" "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
Jesus
spoke in parables when He taught so that the world would not understand. We see
in the Scriptures above that He had to open our understanding for us to
understand.
Paul’s concern for the geographical spread of the
gospel is evident here (cf. Mat_28:19),
appropriate in view of his writing to the believers at the empire’s capital
city.
Paul then identified specifically the object of
his benediction: To the only wise God. In the Greek this phrase is
followed immediately by the words through Jesus Christ. This indicates
that the wisdom of God is displayed supremely through Christ (cf. Col_2:3). According to the Greek text the
benediction then ends, to whom be glory forever! Amen (cf. Rom_11:36). Psalms 147:5 "Great [is] our Lord, and of
great power: his understanding [is] infinite."
This
just about says it all. God is Wisdom. He is Power. He is Infinite.
It
was through the Father that the gospel was ultimately revealed; therefore He
deserves all the credit, praise and worship. God the
Father ultimately is the One to be praised and to whom glory belongs (cf. 1Co_15:24-28).
