Romans 16:17
in Romans 16Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.
KJV
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
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This verse in Romans 16
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Now I beseech you - One great object of this Epistle had been to promote “peace” between the Jewish and Gentile converts. So much did this subject press upon the mind of the apostle, that he seems unwilling so leave it. He returns to it again and again; and even after the Epistle is apparently concluded, he returns to it, to give them a new charge on the subject. Mark them - Observe attentively, cautiously, and faithfully Php 3:17; be on your guard against them. Ascertain “who are” the real causes of the divisions that spring up, and avoid them.
This site's exposition
watch out for those who create divisions
on Romans 16:17-18
One warning stands between the greetings and the grace. The measure is the teaching already learned, and anyone whose work cuts across it is marked and avoided. Such men serve their own appetites, and smooth talk and flattery do the work on people too trusting to hear it.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Paul is here discussing the same people he wrote about to Timothy and to Titus. See also Philippians [3:19].
Now Paul goes on to mention the false apostles, whom he warns against throughout the epistle just as he does here as well. But he attacks their teaching without saying what it is. They were forcing believers to become Jews and thereby making the benefits …
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusINTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS · Written before 458.
proposed
The people Paul is referring to here were men who defended the law.
For these are they "who by good words and fair speeches lead astray the hearts of the simple, and, while offering them blessings, lead them astray." [Romans 16:17-19] Let us, therefore, fear the judgment which awaits teachers. For a severe judgment will those teachers receive …
Again an exhortation, and prayer after the exhortation. For after telling them to "mark them which cause divisions," and not to listen to them, he proceeds, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly:" and, "The grace of our Lord be with you." And notice how gently too he exhorts them: doing it not in the character of a counsellor, but that of a servant, and with much respect. For he calls them brethren, and supplicates them likewise. For, "I beseech you, brethren," (he says). Then he also puts them on the defensive by showing the deceitfulness of those who abused them. For as though they were not at once to be discerned, he says, "I beseech you to mark," that is, to be exceedingly particular about, and to get acquainted with, and to search out thoroughly-whom, pray? why, "those that cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned." For this is, if anything the subversion of the Church, the being in divisions. This is the devil's weapon, this turneth all things upside-down. For so long as the body is joined into one, he has no power to get an entrance, but it is from division that the offence cometh. And whence is division? From opinions contrary to the teaching of the Apostles. And whence come opinions of this sort? From men's being slaves to the belly, and the other passions. For "such," he says, "serve not the Lord, but their own belly." And so there would be no offence, there would be no division, unless some opinion were thought of contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles. And this he here points out by saying, "contrary to the doctrine." And he does not say which we have taught, but "which ye have learned," so anticipating them, and showing that they were persuaded of and had heard them and received them. And what are we to do to those who make mischief in this way? […]
7 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
But I beg you, brethren, that you observe those who make dissensions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and turn aside from them. For such do not serve Christ our Lord, but their own belly; and through sweet words and blessings they seduce the hearts of the innocent. For your obedience is everywhere published abroad. In you therefore I rejoice.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Again he offers an exhortation, and not as a counselor, but as a humble petitioner and with great respect for them, for he calls them brethren. Exposing the schemes of harmful people, he said "watch out for," that is, inquire about them with diligence. First …
After indicating whom they should greet, the Apostle now shows them whom to avoid. In regard to this he does three things: first, he teaches whom they should avoid; second, he gives the reason, at for they who; third, he promises them divine help to …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. The apostle having endeavoured by his endearing salutations to unite them together, it was not improper to subjoin a caution to take heed of those whose principles and practices were destructive to Christian love. The caution itself, which is given in the most obliging manner that could be: I beseech you, brethren.
Now I beseech you, brethren,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The direction as to both is, first, to "mark" such, lest the evil should be done ere it was fully discovered; and next, to "avoid" them (compare 2Th 3:6, 14), so as neither to bear any responsibility for their procedure, nor seem to give them the least countenance.
Mark them which cause divisions - Several MSS. read ασφαλως σκοπειτε, look sharply after them; let them have no kiss of charity nor peace, because they strive to make divisions, and thus set the flock of Christ at variance among themselves; and from these divisions, offenses (σκανδαλα, scandals) are produced; and this is contrary to that doctrine of peace, unity, and brotherly love which you have learned. Look sharply after such that they do you no evil, and avoid them - give them no countenance, and have no religious fellowship with them.
The words behind it
22 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Παρακαλῶ | parakalo | I exhort | G3870 → | 108 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὑμᾶς, | humas | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| σκοπεῖν | skopein | to watch out for | G4648 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τὰς | tas | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διχοστασίας | dichostasias | divisions | G1370 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σκάνδαλα | skandala | obstacles | G4625 → | 15 times |
| παρὰ | para | contrary to | G3844 → | 192 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδαχὴν | didachen | teaching | G1322 → | |
| ἣν | hen | that | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐμάθετε | emathete | have learned | G3129 → | |
| ποιοῦντας | poiountas | causing | G4160 → | 569 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐκκλίνετε | ekklinete | do turn away | G1578 → | |
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| αὐτῶν. | auton | them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ΠαρακαλῶI exhort
parakaloG3870 →108 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
ὑμᾶς,you,
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
σκοπεῖνto watch out for
skopeinG4648 →
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
τὰς<the>
tasG3588 →19766 times
διχοστασίαςdivisions
dichostasiasG1370 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰ<the>
taG3588 →19766 times
σκάνδαλαobstacles
skandalaG4625 →15 times
παρὰcontrary to
paraG3844 →192 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
διδαχὴνteaching
didachenG1322 →
ἣνthat
henG3739 →1405 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ἐμάθετεhave learned
ematheteG3129 →
ποιοῦνταςcausing
poiountasG4160 →569 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐκκλίνετεdo turn away
ekklineteG1578 →
ἀπ᾽from
ap᾽G575 →640 times
αὐτῶν.them.
autonG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 3:5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
it leads to
- Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught…
- Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
- Matthew 23:27–28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.
- 1 Timothy 5:8
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- Isaiah 29:13
Through
Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 6:20
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
- Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
- Galatians 4:9
But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them…
- 1 Timothy 6:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
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About Romans
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Augustine of Hippo, AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 84; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 32; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Pseudo-Clement, Two Epistles on Virginity; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.