Romans 16:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Again there is exhortation, and after exhortation, prayer. Having said, beware of those who introduce divisions and do not listen to them, the Apostle added, “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet,” and, “The grace of the Lord be with you,” Rom 16:20.

Notice how condescendingly he exhorts. He does this not as a counselor, but as a servant, and even with great respect for them.

The Apostle calls them brothers and beseeches them, saying, “I beseech you, brothers.” Then he warns them, revealing the snares of harmful people.

Since these people did not act openly, the Apostle says, “I beseech you, beware.” That is, carefully investigate, learn, and test.

“I beseech you, brethren, beware of those who cause divisions and scandals, contrary to the doctrine which you learned.” Again he offers an exhortation.

He does so not as a counselor, but as a humble petitioner, and with great respect for them, for he calls them brethren.

Revealing the snares of harmful people, he said, “beware,” that is, inquire about them carefully.

First he mentions disputes, and then divisions. For as long as unity is preserved in the body of the Church, divisions cannot enter.

Divisions are heresies, for he says, “contrary to the doctrine which you learned.” He did not say, “which we taught,” but, “which you learned.”

When Paul says, “I beseech you, brethren, beware of those who cause divisions and scandals, contrary to the doctrine which you learned,” he has in mind the same people about whom he writes to Timothy.

“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, remain at Ephesus and charge certain persons not to teach a different doctrine, nor to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which produce disputes rather than God’s edification in faith,” 1 Tim 1:3-4.

And in the Epistle to Titus: “For there are many insubordinate men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.

Their mouths must be stopped, since they overthrow whole households by teaching what they ought not, for shameful gain.

One of themselves, a poet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy bellies,’” Titus 1:10-12.

Paul again returns to the false apostles, against whom he teaches caution throughout the whole letter, as also in this passage. Here, however, he criticizes their teaching without explaining what it is. They intended to make believers into Jews and thereby to make void the benefits of God, as I mentioned above. By devising genealogies for themselves and using them to support their teaching, they deceived the hearts of simple people.

In these words the Apostle has in mind the unrighteous defenders of the Law. He commands them to flee their teachings, while praising the preaching of the chief of the apostles. The words, “who cause divisions contrary to the doctrine which you learned,” show that he greatly admired the teaching handed down to them.

Giving his final warning against those who produce divisions among believers by their incorrect teaching, such as requiring all to observe Jewish fasts, feasts, and the like, the Apostle beseeches them to be cautious in dealing with them.

Pointing to the moral qualities of those who produce divisions, he describes them with the same traits by which the Apostles Peter and John characterized the heretics of their own time.

These heretics pursued their base aims and ruined Christians through seduction by flattery and eloquence. One may say, however, that these are the basic traits of false teachers in every age.

Saint John Chrysostom, dwelling on the Apostle’s warning against heretics, shows how one must relate to heretics.

He says, “The Apostle did not say, ‘Gather and fight with them,’ but, ‘avoid them.’ If they did this from ignorance or error, they would have to be corrected.

But since they sin deliberately, flee far from them.”

At the conclusion the Apostle gives one warning, namely against false teachers. It is not evident that such people were already among the Romans, but he foresaw that they would be, and he warns them.

These corrupters of minds followed Saint Paul everywhere close behind. They caused him much trouble and evil everywhere, and inflicted great harm and damage on the truth of God.

Wishing to deliver the Romans from this evil, he says to them, “watch,” σκοπεῖν. I ask you to look carefully, lest those who create dissensions and disturbances creep in among you.

He does not say who they are, but defines them generally as those who will not teach what you have learned.