Final Warning
FINAL WARNING
ROMANS 16:17-27
Paul warns the church against false teachers.
With some abruptness, in the midst of the final greetings, comes a warning. The perennial peril of the church is faction, which often emerges when some exhibitionist, or aspirant for power, thrusts on the congregation, in the guise of conviction, and sometimes under the name of God, their own special teaching (16:17f.). Paul had met them in his Galatian churches, at Corinth and Colossae. He feared their intrusion at Philippi (Philippians 3:18f.) and at Rome. Someone who sets out, in selfish propagation of their own ideas, to disturb the peace of the church, bears a heavy responsibility.
The burden of guilt on those who clutter the path to Christ is as heavy (16:17). Those who “by fair and flattering words deceive the hearts of the simple-minded” have been known in all ages. Paul’s stern warning is relevant today. He was sure that the church at Rome could deal with this intrusion on their unanimity and peace. He hints that such abuses are best nipped in the bud. Perhaps the potential division which has emerged once or twice in this letter was beginning to crystallize round certain personalities, and Paul may have tactfully thought it wiser to defer the warning to a context that was remote from his earlier reference to the doctrinal or radical division.
Paul’s circle send their greetings. Perhaps they may be identified (see Acts 13:1; 17:5-9; 20:4; 1 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 2:19f.).
As we leave one of the great documents of Christianity we come finally to Paul’s expression of praise (16:25-27). All the leading ideas of the letter may be discovered as interwoven in it.