"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
Romans 16:17-18
Part 1
Not only are my words important, what I say and how I say it, but I need to be wise when listening to others speak their words as well.
“Now I beseech you, brethren.”
After Paul gives his final greetings to those in the church at Rome, he takes a moment to share some parting thoughts. He is very concerned about them. They must learn to always accept Bible doctrine, and to reject any and all false teaching!
Paul’s word “contains a brief but earnest warning against an evil which everywhere beset and encountered the Apostle—the bold or subtle efforts of perverted and perverting teachers, Christians in name.”[1]
“Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.”
Believers, beware of any person who “causes divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine!” False teachers were cropping up in Rome and the other places where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is taught. Today there is false teaching abounding. We need to listen to and heed this same warning. These false teachers will both divide and deceive Gods’ people if they are allowed to be heard. In our churches, we must have both “unity” and “truth.”
“This is essential to God’s purpose for the church. Truth without unity leads to pride; unity without truth leads to a departure from the true gospel itself. Each of these must be guarded against.”[2]
How can we guard against these things?
“Mark them” comes from the Greek word to “keep an eye on so as to avoid” them.[3] We are to “keep your eye on the goal.” Paul used this word in two ways. In Philippians, the same word “mark” he used to invite the believers to “watch him” so that they could “follow him,” that is to live like a believer and glorify God.
“Brethren, be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:7).
Why watch Paul’s life? To “…be followers together of me] More lit., become my united imitators.”[4]
But in our verse for today, Paul charges the Roman believers to “mark,” “watch them,” to “avoid them.”
“Mark them” as “Watchfully and diligently, as though you should scout for your enemies in a watchtower”[5] (Geneva Bible).
It seems so harsh to “avoid” someone, it that really necessary? Come back tomorrow, and let’s talk more.
Quote: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:1-3).
[1] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] Cambridge Bible, ibid.
[5] The Geneva Bible, Translation Notes, in the electronic version in eSword.