Romans 16:17-20 - Beware of Them Who Cause Division

Romans 16:17-20 (KJV)
¹⁷ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
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.
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.
²⁰ And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Paul's final remark to his readers was a warning against them who cause divisions and offences which are contrary to the doctrine which they had learned (verse 17). They were to be avoided! Just like in our own congregations of today, there were those who came into the assembly with ideas and doctrines which were in opposition to sound Biblical teaching. Paul said they were to be avoided. However, this seems to be advice very contrary to how our churches respond today. There is such an emphasis on being seeker-friendly and relevant to today's culture that not only are sermons watered-down, but doctrines contrary to the Word of God are allowed to slip into our churches causing all kinds of havoc in the Body of Messiah. Instead, our assemblies should hold to Biblical truth and to teach thoroughly those truths. While there are honest variations in Biblical interpretation, reflected in the myriad denominations in our world today, there are major core teachings that should be non-negotiable, that anyone teaching or espousing anti-Biblical views must not be allowed in our assemblies.

Those who taught contrary to sound doctrine did not serve Messiah Yeshua, but themselves, by their good words and fair speeches (verse 18). They deceived the hearts of the simple. This is what is happening in our churches today, as well. These false teachers deceive those that are not grounded in Biblical truth. And today, there are too many who are Biblically illiterate and who fall prey to these teachers.

Yet, Paul's Roman believers were known to be obedient to Messiah Yeshua (verse 19). Paul was glad for this, but he also cautioned them to be wise unto that which is good, and to be simple concerning evil. Paul was not saying that believers should not have an awareness of what is evil, but that an over familiarity with evil was to be avoided.

Paul then encouraged the believers by saying that the God of peace would bruise Satan under their feet shortly (verse 20). Although nearly 2,000 years have passed since Paul's declaration, Satan's time is ever shorter and we are closer than ever to his defeat. Hallelu-Yah!!

Romans 16:11-16 - More Greetings

Romans 16:11-16 (KJV)
¹¹ Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
¹² Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
¹³ Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
¹⁴ Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
¹⁵ Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
¹⁶ Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Paul continued his greetings in verse 11 by mentioning Herodion, his kinsman, who possibly had some connection to the Herod family. Next he greeted those of the household of Narcissus who were believers. Next he greeted Tryphena and Tryphosa, two women who labored in the work of the Lord (verse 12). He also greeted the beloved Persis, another woman who labored in the Lord's work. In verse 13 Paul greeted Rufus, who was chosen in the Lord (perhaps meaning distinguished?).

Mark 15:21 (KJV)
²¹ And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

This Rufus, whose father helped to carry Yeshua's cross, may be the same as the one Paul now greeted.

At the same time, the greeting was extended to Rufus' mother. Paul apparently felt so connected to this woman that he referred to her as "his own." Paul then greeted Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the fellow believers that were with them (verse 14). He also greeted Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints (believers) that are with them (verse 15). Julia and the sister of Nereus were two more women that Paul mentioned.

Then in verse 16 Paul tells his Roman readers to greet one another with an holy kiss, which was a Middle-Eastern custom. These greetings were also to be understood as coming from all the other congregations of Messiah.

Next, Paul would give some further advise.