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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Romans 16:17 - 16:17
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Observe here, 1. How our apostle takes his leave and farewell of the Romans, with an admonition to them to take heed of persons that were erroneous in doctrine, and scandalous in practice. 'Tis probable he means either those Jews who pleaded the necessity of circumcision, and the observation of the Mosaic rites, as necessary to the salvation of the Gentiles; or the gnostics to whom the following characters do well agree. Whoever they were, they were dangerous seducers, and to be avoided.
Observe, 2. The character which our apostle gives of these persons; They serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.
Note, That seducers are always self-seekers; they are designing men: they aim at themselves, under a pretence of acting for Christ and his glory. They serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.
Observe, 3. The arts and methods which they use to delude and deceive: By good words and fair speeches, they deceive the hearts of the simple. Seducers have smooth and glossing tongues; and innocent, harmless men are misled by their fine pretences and fair speeches: and thus they impose upon the simple.
Observe, 4. The double advice which the apostle gives, in order to their being preserved and secured from the poison and contagion of these seducers: namely, to mark them, and avoid them.
(1.) To mark them: the word signifies such a marking as a watchman useth when he standeth upon a tower to descry an enemy; which is performed with great accuracy.
(2.) To avoid them as a sound person would shun him that has the plague upon him.
Where note, The apostle advises to mark them, in order to the declining of them, not destroying of them; to cut them off of excomminication, not to cut their throats, or burn their bodies for heresy: Mark them which cause divisions, and avoid them.
Observe, 5. The persons whom this exhortation concerns, who they are that should judge of the doctrines and seducers: they are the common people, the Romans, the saints or Christians at Rome, to whom he was now writing; to them the apostle allows a judgment of discretion, a power to try and examine the doctrines delivered by persons pretending to infallible inspiration: I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions, contrary to the doctrines which ye have learned.
Christians are by no means to be led by their teachers blindfold, but ought to see with their own eyes, to take nothing upon trust, but all upon trial; to examine the doctrines they are taught, and to observe and mark the teachers of them: I beseech you, says our apostle, mark them.