I.
REMARK #1: A Final Warning-(Look out!)-16:17-20
If final comments
are any indication of what is important to a speaker after the body of a speech
or in the conclusion of a book then it is safe to assume that Paul’s warning in
verses 17-20 was not only necessary, but important to the health of the church
and Rome and the success of her mission.
Paul’s final warning begins as follows “Now I urge you, brethren (lit.
asking you earnestly) to keep your eye on (watch closely) those who cause
dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned”
(16:17a). Though the identity of these false teachers is unknown, one thing is
certain, as in many groups, there were those in the ranks that were intent on
bringing down the whole. The means by which these enemies of the cause were
confronting the church in Rome was through “dissensions and hindrances.” Proverbs
lists such attacks among “the seven [things] that are detestable to [the
Lord],” calling “a man who stirs up dissension among brother” in the most
emphatic position” (Proverbs 6:16, 19) (Mounce, Romans, 278). Such “hindrances” and “dissensions” not only threw
the unity of the church in jeopardy, Paul reveals that such is “contrary to the
teaching which you learned” (Rom. 16:17a). What teaching is Paul referencing
here? I imagine the unifying teaching of the gospel of Christ that brings
people of all backgrounds into one body through faith and repentance. Such
unifying teachings can be found in Romans itself as it encourages a diverse
population toward working together for the single mission of God. Any
unnecessary hindrance and/or dissention, was not only practically inhibiting,
it was theologically unsound.
Concerning those
who would divide people unnecessarily or throw improper stumbling blocks in the
way of the gospel mission, Paul says “turn away from them” (16:17b). Literally
the text implies “purposefully avoid them” or “shun” them. Given in the present
tense, Paul may be suggesting that this act of extending dissenters the cold
shoulder may need to be a common and often-endorsed behavior. Whenever people
like this present themselves, the church is instructed here to avoid them like
the plague they are.
But why? Why are
such people so destructive/dangerous. First, Paul says that “such men are
slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites” (16:18a). Literally,
the word “appetites” translates the Greek word for “belly.” Paul warns against
such men in Philippians 3:19 where, speaking of false teachers, Paul says
“their god is their stomach.” Instead of being driven in their gut by their
pursuit of Christ and his calling on their lives, such men/women were driven by
their own desires/agendas—whatever satisfied their cravings (i.e. attention,
power, prestige, etc.). There are few
things more dangerous to a church than people with insatiable appetites for
self-glory.
Not only are these
to be avoided for misdirecting glory, they were to be shunned because of their
propensity to lead people astray. Paul continues “and by their smooth and
flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting” (16:18b). As
often proves the case in Scripture, Paul makes sure the church remembers that
Satan does not put his minions in garish costumes that scare, but in
silver-tongued “good-ol boys and girls” that offer flattering and pious speech.
“I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments”
(Col. 2:4). Paul wants to be certain that the church was aware that there are
some who would by “deceptive eloquence would lead them into error” (Mounce, Romans, 279).
Unfortunately, this
encouragement is just as applicable today as it was in the first century.
Whether you call it “false teaching,” or “strange fire” (Macarthur) there is a
very real need for the people of God to “watch out closely” for and “turn away”
from the same kind of freshly pressed, good-looking, monsters that grace stages
and TV stations. I’m talking about those who leverage their pulpits for fame
and fortune rather than mission and kingdom. I’m talking about those who begin
and end their programming with something they are selling. I’m talking about
churches in which self-help has replaced the complete gospel of Jesus Christ.
I’m talking about men and women whose most sophisticated arguments are
constructed for the purposes of justifying fundraising efforts for their second
or third private jets. I’m talking about people who promise miracles for the
exchange of money. I’m talking about places in which strange and indiscernible
tongues, violent convulsions, and worrisome antics are confused for the work of
the Holy Spirit. Watch out for and turn away from such church lest you be
devoured by a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15).
Another reason the
church should be on special guard for these villains is there was (and is) so
much to lose. Paul commends the church in Rome saying “For the report of your
obedience has reached to all, therefore I am rejoicing over you” (16:19a). The obedience
of those in the church in Rome was well known throughout the known world. What
a thing to be known for! Not only did this give Paul great joy, it also put a
large target on the back of this body of believers. This is probably why Paul
immediately shifts from this commendation to a reiteration of the warning
already given.
“but I want you to
be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil” (16:19b). Another
translation reads “be well-versed in which is good” (TCNT). Paul wanted the
church of Christ hold advanced degrees in truth and blackbelts in godliness
while also being totally free of evil. Similar sentiments are shared by Jesus
when, in his admonition to the disciples before sending them out, he says “be
as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (16:19b). Remember, the church in
Rome existed under extreme pressure to compromise and capitulate. Similarly, today,
in a culture that continues to betray the spiritual forces that war against the
church, it is vital that believers live lives of uncompromising holiness. “God
never intended his children to become intimate with evil in order to
communicate the gospel to those in its grasp” (Mounce, Romans, 279).
Paul ends his final
warning with a promise—“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…”
(16:20). This prediction literally suggests that the church will smash Satan
into pieces along with all vestiges of his power. Here, Paul uses an allusion
to the beginning in order to provide hope for the ultimate end. By clearly
referencing Genesis 3:15 (the protoevagelium), Paul reminds the church that
while their present struggle for truth and holiness is real, so too is the
promise of final victory. In the meantime Paul says “the grace of our Lord
Jesus be with you” (16:20).
II. REMARK #2: A Final Greeting-(We all
love you!)-16:21-24
The second remark
that Paul makes as he closes his letter is a greeting. In verses 4-15, Paul
himself greeted several Christians that he knew were living in Rome (or were
heading in that direction). Here, Paul is extending the greetings of others who
wanted to encourage the church. The first of these is Timothy and his
company—“Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and
Sosipater, my kinsmen” (16:21). It is not secret that Timothy held a special
place in Paul’s heart and ministry. He joined Paul in Lystra on Paul’s second
missionary journey and labored alongside the apostle for an extended period
thereafter. Mounce argues that “no other man had quite the same personal
attention from the aging apostle, who was nearing the close of his ministry”
(Mounce, Romans, 280). Lucius, Jason,
and Sosipater were other workers with Paul who, along with Timothy offered
their greetings to the church in Rome.
Interestingly, the
next person to extend a greeting is the secretary who composed the letter
itself—“I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord” (16:22).
Though the content of the letter is Paul’s, Tertius is the “amanuensis”—i.e.
the trained scribe who physically copied down Paul’s dictation to the Roman
Christians. These “secretaries” were often employed in Paul’s day to write
correspondences down neatly when paper was both scarce and expensive (Moo, ZIBBC, 94).
Next in line to
offer his greeting is Gaius and company—“Gaius, host to me and to the whole
church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the
brother (the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen)”
(16:23-24). Gaius is probably one of the
few people Paul is identified as having baptized (see 1 Cor. 1:14). Paul and
many others have enjoyed his hospitality and he is extended an opportunity to
greet Rome. Little is known about the other two men, other than what is
mentioned.
So many wanted to
greet this important church and offer their support. Paul, in essence passes
around the microphone to those around him before closing his letter. However,
he grabs the mic one more time to offer a final benediction.
III. REMARK #3: A Final Benediction-(Its
all about Jesus!)-16:25-27
Paul’s benediction
begins with the praises of a great and mighty God. Paul initially frames the
Almighty as the great Establisher—“Not to Him who is able to establish you
according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ” (16:25a). This
“gospel” that serves as the foundation of the church is the same gospel that
Paul had made plain in the first 11 chapters of this letter—the life, death,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ served as the focal point of the
gospel as well as Paul’s preaching. Jesus is at the center of it all, the
cornerstone of the foundation of the church.
Not only is God the
great establisher through Christ, he is celebrated here as the great
revealer—“according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret
for long ages past, but is now manifested” (16:25-26a). Prior to the first
century, salvation through Jesus has been shrouded in prophecies and hidden in
the eternal counsels of God. However, once Christ emerged, the mystery—God’s
plan of salvation—is perfectly revealed to all.
Ephesians 1:9-“he
made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which
he purposed in Christ.”
Col. 1:26
–“Of this church I was made a minister according to
the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I
might fully carry out the preaching of the word of
God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages
and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to
make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Of all the
revelations that God has provided of Himself, none is greater, more perfect,
and more complete than Jesus Christ.
After all, “the son is The Son is the radiance of God's glory
and the exact representation
of his being” (Heb. 1:3). Paul says that
this revelation of God (Jesus Christ) “has been manifested”—meaning that his
work, now complete, suffers present and ongoing implications.
The revelation of
God in Jesus Christ works to fulfill the scriptures of the prophets, indicating
that in addition to an establisher and revealer, God is a fulfiller—and by the
scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal
God" (16:26a). All that God
promised to the saints of old was fulfilled in Christ, indicating that Bible is
not so much two testaments as much as it is one grand story with Jesus at its
center.
Not only does God establish,
reveal, and fulfill all in Christ Jesus, he potentially leads all in faith—“has
been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith” (16:26b).
Jesus not only connects two testaments together into one metanarrative, he
establishes one people—the people of God, from two significant different
backgrounds—Jew and Gentile. This is yet another theme of Romans (especially
9-11). In other words, the gospel message of which Paul is not ashamed (see
1:16) is a message for all nations that has entered the world through Christ
and now suffers ramifications for the entire world (Jew and Gentile alike—see
1:17).
In a euphoric and
passionate doxology, Paul breaks syntax and concludes his letter with “to the
only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen” (16:27). Even
here, Paul places Jesus Christ as center focus for His advent is in keeping
with God’s wise plan and His humiliation and resurrection returned to God the
greatest glory imaginable. Paul hoped that his ministry in general and his
letter to the Romans in particular would also be in keeping with God’s wisdom,
centered on Christ, and result if God bring glorified. May it be so! (Amen!).
So
What?
Though these may
not be the final comments you would expect after such a lengthy and
theologically charged letter, these are the ones that the Holy Spirit inspired
Paul to offer the church in Rome as it persevered in its brave new world. Look out
for false teachers! We all love you! and it is all about Jesus (that is the gospel
and the glory)! What is so striking
about these last remarks is how applicable they are in today’s context (our own
brave new world). Are we not currently a church under assault both from without
and from within by false doctrines and charlatans who seek to mislead the
masses for their own personal gain? We must be a church that is vigilant in
keeping a close eye on such, committed to truth and holiness over what sounds
and feels good. Look out church! Are we not encouraged when we know that our
brothers and sisters in Christ (and the great cloud of witnesses is cheering on
the sidelines and encouraging us as we endure to the end!) We all love you
church! Are we not also prone to add to or supplement the gospel with
peripheral things, forgetting that gospel that saves and the glory that is
promised is all found in Christ, the establisher, revealer, fulfiller, and
leader of our faith who came, died, and was raised from the dead? It is all
about Jesus church! May it be so and remain so as we endure this brave new
world until the end!
No comments:
Post a Comment