Romans 16:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“Such people,” says the Apostle, “serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.” Thus there would be neither scandals nor division if doctrine contrary to apostolic doctrine had not been invented.

Pointing to this, the Apostle says here, “contrary to the doctrine.” He did not say, “which we taught,” but, “which you learned.”

By this he anticipates them and shows that they were fully convinced, heard, and received the doctrine.

Then, rebuking those who dare to introduce division, he also shows the cause of their action, saying, “Such people serve not the Lord, but their own belly.”

He said the same in the Epistle to the Philippians: “their god is the belly,” Phil 3:19.

“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.”

For such men do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly. By pleasant words and by their own eloquence, they deceive, beguile, and capture the hearts of the simple.

Flattery is always crafty, sly, and insinuating. Therefore the philosophers rightly call the flatterer “a gentle enemy.” Truth, however, is bitter, stern, and sorrowful, and it wounds those whom it reaches.

“For such men do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly.” From this it is clear that he says this about the Jews, because he always accuses them of gluttony. Elsewhere he says, “whose god is their belly” (Phil 3:19). “By good words and blessing they deceive the hearts of the innocent.” By blessing he means praise. He indicates that some of them had been led into deception. For he says, “they deceive the hearts of the innocent.” He blames not wicked character, but simplicity. Then again he stirs them up with praises.

Heretics hide the poison of impious teachings under the name of Christ, as though under honey.

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.”

Know that with these corrupters everything on the tongue is the Lord, but they do not work for the Lord. They only cover their evil-mindedness with His name.

They work for their own belly. By this perhaps self-pleasing in general is indicated, the concern to live in comfort and rest.

Since the stomach is the most troublesome tyrant in us, those who please themselves care above all to stuff it and make it silent.

Having this weakness in view, the Apostle said that they work only for their own belly. The stomach moves them.

They revolve everywhere, having invented an easy means of profit: the spread of false doctrines. It must be said that the simple people everywhere are very susceptible to these.