Romans 16 17

Romans 16:17 kjv

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Romans 16:17 nkjv

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

Romans 16:17 niv

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

Romans 16:17 esv

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Romans 16:17 nlt

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.

Romans 16 verses

Romans 16 17 Meaning

Romans 16:17 delivers an urgent pastoral admonition from the Apostle Paul to the believers in Rome. He implores them to actively discern and guard against individuals who introduce divisions and create stumbling blocks within the community. These actions are contrary to the established and foundational Christian teaching the Roman Christians had already received. The strong directive given is to identify these disruptors and completely disassociate from them to protect the unity and purity of the church.

Romans 16 17 Context

Romans 16:17 appears near the very end of Paul's letter to the Romans, amidst a chapter largely devoted to personal greetings and commendations to specific individuals and households in the Roman church. This sudden, urgent warning stands in stark contrast to the preceding affectionate farewells, highlighting the profound importance Paul placed on the issue. After delivering extensive theological explanations (Rom 1-11) and practical instructions for Christian living (Rom 12-15), this final admonition underscores the vulnerability of the church to internal threats and the need to vigilantly protect its doctrinal purity and communal peace. Historically, the early church, especially in a diverse imperial city like Rome, was constantly exposed to various philosophical ideas, pagan influences, and divergent Jewish Christian views, making the potential for doctrinal disputes and social fragmentation a persistent challenge. Paul’s warning serves as a direct polemic against any belief or practice that would undermine the unified gospel he had meticulously laid out.

Romans 16 17 Word analysis

• Now I urge you (παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς - parakalō de hymas): Parakalō signifies a strong, earnest plea, an admonition, and encouragement. It reflects Paul's apostolic authority intertwined with deep pastoral concern for the Roman believers, not just a command. De acts as a conjunction marking a transition to a critically important matter after numerous greetings.

• brothers (ἀδελφοί - adelphoi): This addresses them as fellow members of the Christian family, emphasizing their shared identity and mutual responsibility to protect the church. It retains a tender, communal tone despite the stern warning.

• watch out for (σκοπεῖν - skopein): An imperative meaning "to observe," "to mark carefully," "to keep an eye on." It denotes active, discerning vigilance, not passive observation, urging believers to be perceptive to the potential dangers within their midst.

• those who cause divisions (τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας ποιοῦντας - tous tas dichostasias poiountas):

  • Dichostasias (διχοστασίας): Literally "a standing apart" or "dissent." This refers to active promotion of dissension, discord, and factions within the church, fracturing its unity. It’s more than disagreement; it's the creation of schisms.
  • Poiountas (ποιοῦντας): A present participle indicating continuous or habitual action, emphasizing they are actively making or creating these divisions, they are instigators.

• and create obstacles (καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα - kai ta skandala):

  • Skandala (σκάνδαλα): Literally "stumbling blocks" or "occasions of stumbling." In a moral and spiritual sense, this means anything that causes others to sin, fall from faith, or deviate from the truth. It suggests leading people astray.

• contrary to the teaching (παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν - para tēn didachēn):

  • Para (παρὰ): Preposition meaning "alongside" but often used with the sense of "contrary to," "contrary to the rule of." It denotes deviation, going against an established standard.
  • Didachēn (διδαχὴν): Refers to the instruction, doctrine, or body of truth. It points to the foundational, consistent apostolic teaching of the Gospel that forms the core of Christian belief and practice.

• that you have learned (ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε - hēn hymeis emathete): Emphasizes that the Romans had received authentic and established doctrine. This validates their prior instruction and contrasts it with the novel, disruptive ideas introduced by the agitators. It underscores an objective standard.

• avoid them (ἐκκλίνετε ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν - ekklinete ap' autōn):

  • Ekklinete (ἐκκλίνετε): An imperative verb meaning "to turn away from," "to deviate," "to shun." It’s a decisive command to withdraw, disassociate, or stay clear of these individuals. It’s not merely a suggestion, but an active measure of self-protection for the community.
  • Ap' autōn (ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν): "From them," further emphasizing the required separation.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Now I urge you, brothers, watch out for": Establishes a pastoral authority making a crucial demand for active discernment within the communal body.
  • "those who cause divisions and create obstacles": Identifies the specific problematic behaviors: actively generating discord and tempting others to stray from the path of faith and righteousness.
  • "contrary to the teaching that you have learned": Provides the objective benchmark for identifying these issues—a clear deviation from the foundational and authentic apostolic doctrine they received.
  • "avoid them": States the unambiguous, required response: complete and active disassociation to prevent the spread of their negative influence and protect the spiritual health of the community.

Romans 16 17 Bonus section

The position of this warning at the close of Romans, right before the doxology, implies its non-negotiable significance. It's as if Paul couldn't conclude the letter without giving this vital instruction, recognizing the vulnerability of young Christian communities. The "teaching that you have learned" points to an established body of doctrine, suggesting the apostles transmitted a consistent, unified truth. This contrasts sharply with later individualized spiritual "truths" or constantly evolving doctrines. Paul’s use of "watch out for" (skopein) highlights active engagement – believers are not merely to react to division, but to preemptively identify potential instigators. The phrase implies looking closely, being observant of their behavior and the content of their message, thus underscoring the necessity for discerning spiritual intelligence.

Romans 16 17 Commentary

Romans 16:17 serves as a final, piercing call to vigilance within the diverse Roman church. Paul's urgency indicates the profound threat internal strife and false teaching posed to the integrity and mission of early Christianity. The verse distinguishes between mere disagreements (which the church must often navigate with grace, as Rom 14-15 implies) and deliberate, harmful instigation of "divisions" (disrupting unity) and "obstacles" (causing spiritual downfall). These destructive actions are measured against "the teaching that you have learned," emphasizing the absolute authority of the established apostolic gospel. The instruction to "avoid them" is not an act of intolerance for minor differences but a protective measure, isolating dangerous spiritual infection to safeguard the doctrinal purity and communal peace for which Christ died. It exemplifies the balance of love and truth, where the love for the flock necessitates a strong stance against anything that corrupts it. Practically, this calls believers to exercise discernment regarding influences, compare them to biblical teaching, and take decisive steps to protect the body of Christ from those who undermine its unity or corrupt its doctrine.