Romans 16:17-27

16:17-18 | Believers are commanded to be alert for those who might have division instead of unity as their goal. Instead of confrontation and debate with false teachers, the church’s strategy should be withdrawal in situations like this. Over time, those who seek their own glory will become obvious. Pride and selfish ambition cannot stay hidden to the spiritually discerning.

16:17 | Discernment is so important because divisions can be subtle. Divisions is translated “dissensions” in Galatians 5:20, listed right before “heresies” by Paul. These begin as dissensions just as forest fires begin as sparks. Offenses (Grk., skandalon) means “traps or tricks” or putting a stumbling block in front of someone. False teachers excel at laying traps through the teaching of false doctrine, “scandalizing” the gospel.

16:18 | False teachers in the church use smooth words and flattering speech to deceive the hearts of the simple (Col. 2:4; 2 Pet. 2:3). It is crucial that those who are mature in the faith, disciple new believers.

16:19-20 | Believers are not to live in fear but in confidence and innocence, encouraged moment by moment with the truth.

16:24 | Paul wishes for the church in Rome to experience the spiritual riches made possible through the grace of Christ (2 Cor. 8:9).

16:25-27 | The NT contains other marvelous doxologies to God. One is in Ephesians 3:20-21 and another in Hebrews 13:20-21. A doxology is a prayer of praise to God, ascending glory and worth to His name. This is how Paul closes the letter to the Rome church.

16:25 | Establish is from sterizo (Grk.), meaning to make something firm or stable; to make it hold fast. In the 10 times it occurs in the NT, it always refers to being settled spiritually and mentally in the truth of God’s Word. Paul wanted the saints in Rome to be established, firm, unmoved in their commitment to truth (Col. 2:2; Jude 24).

16:25-26 | Mystery means something that has been hidden in the past but is now revealed. In the NT, mystery refers to part of God’s revelation not known in the OT that has become known in the NT (Matt. 13:35; 11:25; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:9; Col. 1:26; 2:2; 4:3).

16:27 | At the beginning of Romans Paul says, Grace to you; at the end, To God be glory. These expressions are worthy bookends for the most famous letter in Christendom. It expounds upon the salvation that has come by the grace of Christ and for the glory of God.