Romans 16:17 - Meaning and Application

The apostle had just used warm greetings to draw believers together, so it was fitting that he also add a warning about people whose views and actions destroy Christian love. His caution is given in a gentle way: “I beg you, brothers and sisters.” He does not issue a harsh command like a ruler over God’s people, but appeals out of love. Paul’s warnings are always earnest and personal.

He tells them first to see the danger: “Watch out for those who cause divisions and create stumbling blocks.” Jesus had already said that divisions and stumbling blocks would come, but He also warned those through whom they come (Matthew 18:7). Paul is talking about people who burden the church with dividing rules, force those rules on others, or spread ideas that split believers apart. He also includes those who separate from other Christians out of pride, ambition, love of novelty, or similar motives, then worsen the split through harsh arguments, criticism, and suspicious talk.

These people act in ways that go against, or differ from, “the teaching you have learned.” Anything that departs from the clear teaching of Scripture opens the door to division and offense. Once truth is abandoned, unity and peace do not last long. So Paul says to watch such people closely, to study their methods and their aims. Dangerous people often sound convincing, so believers need sharp, watchful eyes.

He also tells them to avoid these people. They should not keep close fellowship with them, so they are not infected by their influence. They should not join any dividing cause or accept any teaching or practice that destroys Christian love or the truth that leads to godliness. Some think Paul especially had the Judaizing teachers in mind, the men who claimed the Christian name but still pushed the old Mosaic ceremonies and said they were necessary.

Paul gives two reasons for this warning. First, these deceivers have a harmful way of working (Romans 16:18). The worse they are, the more carefully we must guard against them. They do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, even if they call themselves Christians. They do not aim at His glory, His cause, or His will. Instead, they serve their own belly, meaning their own fleshly, selfish interests. Pride, ambition, greed, luxury, and lust are the real goals they are chasing. Their god is their belly (Philippians 3:19). They make gain their religion and pleasure their life’s purpose.

Their method is also dangerous: “By smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the naive.” Their words may sound holy, zealous, and caring. It is easy to speak in a godly way from the lips while the heart is far from it. They may speak kindly to the very people they mean to harm. That is how the serpent fooled Eve. They do not only mislead the mind, they work first on the heart, quietly shaping opinions by winning affection. That is why believers must guard their hearts carefully, especially when false teachers are active.

Second, Paul warns them because they are already known for obedience, and that very thing can make them a target. Their obedience had become well known among all people. This made them attractive prey for false teachers. The enemy often attacks churches and souls that are doing well. A ship known to be richly loaded is more likely to be attacked. So Paul says, in effect, “Look out for yourselves.”

False teachers usually go after people who are already stirred up, convicted, or asking questions. Such people are often easier to influence. Many who have started out asking the way to Zion have later fallen into danger here. For that reason, ministers must take special care to feed the lambs gently and lay a good foundation.

Still, Paul says this kindly, not suspiciously. He is glad for their obedience and speaks well of them before warning them. A careful concern for friends can go together with real joy in them. He knows they are a willing, good-natured people, but that very trait can make them easy to mislead if they are not careful. So he gives a general rule: be wise about what is good, and keep simple, or innocent, about evil. Believers should know the truth well, test the spirits, prove all things, and hold fast what is good. There is great need for wisdom in holding to good truth, good duties, and good people, so we are not deceived.

Be wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16), wise enough to tell what is truly good from what is counterfeit. Learn how to tell the difference between things that seem alike, and make the most of your chances. When we live among so many deceivers, we need that wisdom that the prudent person uses to understand the right path (Proverbs 14:8).

At the same time, be simple about evil, wise enough not to be fooled, yet simple enough not to be deceivers. This is a holy simplicity. It means you are not able to plan evil, excuse it, or carry it out. The word means harmless, pure, and not harmful. Be children in malice, that is, have no skill in doing evil (1 Corinthians 14:20). The wisdom of the serpent fits Christians, but not the slyness of the old serpent, Satan. We must also be harmless as doves.

A wise and simple person is one who does not know how to act against the truth. Paul was especially concerned that the Roman church would keep its purity, because it was so well known. It was like a city set on a hill, watched by many eyes, so an error spreading there would become a bad example and hurt other churches. In fact, this has proven true in history, since the great falling away in later days is said to have started in that famous city. The mistakes of leading churches become leading mistakes.

When the bishop of Rome fell like a great star from heaven (Revelation 8:10), his tail drew a third of the stars after him (Revelation 12:4). Paul also points to God’s promise that we will have victory at last. That promise is meant to stir us up and encourage us, not to make us careless about watchfulness and hard work. It is a very sweet promise (Romans 16:20): The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet.

Paul first gives God his title. He calls him the God of peace, the source and giver of all good. When we ask God for spiritual victory, we should think of him not only as the Lord of hosts, who has all power, but also as the God of peace, the God who is at peace with us, speaks peace to us, works peace in us, and creates peace for us. Victory comes from God more as the God of peace than as the God of war, because in all our struggles, peace is what we are fighting for. As the God of peace, he will restrain and defeat all who cause divisions and offenses, and so disturb the peace of the church.

Then Paul names the blessing he expects from God, victory over Satan. If he is speaking first of all about the false teaching and deceptive spirits mentioned before, which Satan first started, the promise still reaches beyond that. It includes all Satan’s schemes against souls, to stain them, trouble them, and destroy them, and all his efforts to keep us from heaven’s purity, heaven’s peace now, and heaven’s possession later. Satan tempts and troubles as both a deceiver and a destroyer, but the God of peace will crush him under our feet.

Paul had warned them about being simple, so they might have wondered, “How will we escape these traps? Won’t these enemies of our souls finally overpower us?” No, says Paul. Do not be afraid. You cannot win by your own strength and wisdom, but the God of peace will do it for you. Through him who loved us, we will be more than conquerors.

The victory will be complete. He will crush Satan under your feet, clearly pointing back to the first promise of the Messiah in Eden (Genesis 3:15), that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. That promise is being fulfilled every day as believers resist and overcome Satan’s temptations, and it will be fully fulfilled when all who belong to God’s saving choice are brought safely into glory, despite all the powers of darkness. When Joshua defeated the kings of Canaan, he called the captains of Israel to put their feet on the kings’ necks (Joshua 10:24). In the same way, Christ, our Joshua, will enable all his faithful servants and soldiers to put their feet on Satan’s neck and trample their spiritual enemies.

Christ has already conquered for us. He has disarmed the strong man, broken his power, and left us only to follow up the victory and divide the spoil. This should stir us up to our spiritual battle and to fight the good fight of faith. We are dealing with a defeated enemy, and the final victory will soon be complete.

The victory will also be soon. “He will do it shortly.” Yet a little while, and he who is coming will come. He has said, “I am coming soon.” When Satan seems to have won and we are ready to give up hope, then the God of peace will bring the work to a quick end in righteousness. Soldiers are encouraged when they know a war will not last long, especially when victory is sure.

Some apply this to the end of their disputes in genuine love and unity. Others take it to mean the end of the church’s persecutions, when the rulers of the empire turned to Christianity, and the church’s cruel enemies were brought low under Constantine. It is better applied to the victory all believers will have over Satan when they come to heaven and are forever beyond his reach, along with the present victories they already gain by grace as a foretaste of that final triumph. So hold on, faith and patience, for yet a little while. When we have crossed the Red Sea, we will see our spiritual enemies dead on the shore and sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.

Paul then adds the blessing, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, meaning Christ’s good will toward them and Christ’s good work in them. This will be the best protection against the traps of false teachers, schismatics, and heretics. If Christ’s grace is with us, who can stand against us and win? So be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Paul, speaking not only as a friend but also as a minister and apostle who had received grace upon grace, blesses them with this authority and repeats the blessing (Romans 16:24).