Divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned

 6.44 am / 9:44 am  9-28-2020 

"During the winter of 57–58 a.d., Paul was in the Greek city of Corinth. From Corinth, he wrote the longest single letter in the New Testament, which he addressed to “God's beloved in Rome” (1:7). Like most New Testament letters, this letter is known by the name of the recipients, the Romans." (L)

Romans 16:17

"Now I beseech you, brothers, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them."

Remember this was perhaps 1 - 2 century Christians believers. 

Taking a look at divisions/offenses today. Now of course I have studied this before and people do confuse such doctrine to some extent or another. In Paul's ministry he encountered or heard about things that seeped into the Corinthians or even Galatians Church and even other Christian Communities such as sexual sins, arguing, jealously, strife, maybe mosaic Jewish law/customs keeping including the worship of Angels being some sorts of paganism that seeped in. Such things written about in the gospel started even at their time period. There were a whole host of problems. Again, there were other places as well that shocked Paul or those people being Christians believers connected to Paul's ministry that he worked with. So below we take a look at some commentaries. 

Credit to Matthew Henry commentary

"16:17-20 how earnest, how endearing are these exhortations! Whatever differs from the sound doctrine of the Scriptures, opens a door to divisions and offences. If truth be forsaken, unity and peace will not last long. Many call Christ, Master and Lord, who are far from serving him. But they serve their carnal, sensual, worldly interests. They corrupt the head by deceiving the heart; perverting the judgments by winding themselves into the affections. We have great need to keep our hearts with all diligence. It has been the common policy of seducers to set upon those who are softened by convictions. A pliable temper is good when under good guidance, otherwise it may be easily led astray. Be so wise as not to be deceived, yet so simple as not to be deceivers. The blessing the apostle expects from God, is victory over Satan. This includes all designs and devices of Satan against souls, to defile, disturb, and destroy them; all his attempts to keep us from the peace of heaven here, and the possession of heaven hereafter. When Satan seems to prevail, and we are ready to give up all as lost, then will the God of peace interpose in our behalf. Hold out therefore, faith and patience, yet a little while. If the grace of Christ be with us, who can prevail against us?"

 

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now I beseech you - One great object of this Epistle had been to promote "peace" between the Jewish and Gentile converts. So much did this subject press upon the mind of the apostle, that he seems unwilling so leave it. He returns to it again and again; and even after the Epistle is apparently concluded, he returns to it, to give them a new charge on the subject.

We are not under the law remember !

Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version

 ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Mark them - Observe attentively, cautiously, and faithfully Philippians 3:17; be on your guard against them. Ascertain "who are" the real causes of the divisions that spring up, and avoid them. Which cause - Who make. Probably he refers here to "Jewish" teachers, or those who insisted strenuously on the observance of the rites of Moses, and who set up a claim for greater purity and orthodoxy than those possessed who received the Gentile converts as Christian brethren. The Jews were perpetually thus recalling the Christian converts to the Law of Moses; insisting on the observance of those rites; troubling the churches, and producing dissensions and strife’s; Galatians 3:1; Galatians 5:1-8; Acts 15:1, Acts 15:24.

They serve their carnal, sensual, worldly interests. Same these days

You know there was one pasture who has being saying for years we need to teach the bible. He said when we come with true Christianity the world hates it. Stop sucking in the world if you are  true believer in Christ. Remember Judas sold Christ out for money. Gold and silver may be you comforts in this life but hell-fire may be Gods judgment in the next. 

 

Divisions - Dissensions; parties; factions; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Galatians 5:20. The very "attempt" to form such parties was evil, no matter what the pretense. They who attempt to form parties in the churches are commonly actuated by some evil or ambitious design. What else is new? Too much play and little worship! 

 

And offences - Scandals; or that give occasion for others to fall into sin. These two things are different. The first means parties; the other denotes such a course of life as would lead others into sin. The "Jew" would form parties, on the pretense of superior holiness; the Gentiles, or some hold Gentile convert might deride the scrupulous feelings of the Jew, and might thus lead him into "sin" in regard to what his conscience really forbade; see Romans 14:15. These persons on both sides were to he avoided, and they were to refuse to follow them, and to cultivate the spirit of unity and peace. Contrary to the doctrine - To the "teaching" which you have received in this Epistle and elsewhere; the teaching that these divisions should cease; that the Jewish ceremonies are not binding; that all should lay aside their causes of former difference, and be united in one family; see Romans 14; 15

 

Barnes

And avoid them - Give them no countenance or approbation. Do not follow them; compare 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 John 1:10; Galatians 1:8-9. That is, avoid them as "teachers;" do not follow them. It does not mean that they were to be treated harshly; but that they were to be avoided in their "instructions." They were to disregard all that they could say tending to produce alienation and strife; and resolve to cultivate the spirit of peace and union. This would be an admirable rule if always followed. Let people make "peace" their prime object; resolve to love all who "are" Christians, and it will be an infallible gauge by which to measure the arguments of those who seek to promote alienation's and contentions.

Mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned.

The men he would have taken notice of were such who divided them in their religious sentiments, introducing heterodox notions, contrary to the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ and his apostles, and which they had learned from them; such as .1) justification by the works of the law, 2.) the observance of Jewish days, and abstinence from meats, enjoined by the ceremonial law, and 3.) that as necessary to salvation; to which some gave heed, and others not, and so were divided; whereas the doctrine of faith is but one, the Gospel is one uniform thing, all of a piece; and those that profess it ought to be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment: hence their minds were alienated from each other, and they began to despise and judge one another, yea, to go into factions and parties, being unwilling to receive and admit each other to communion; and thus by these men they were divided in sentiments, affection, and worship; and which must needs cause offence to the church and the godly members of it, as well as cause many so to be offended, as to stumble and fall from the doctrine of faith, and profession of it, and greatly stagger and distress weak believers, and bring a scandal on religion, and the name and ways of Christ among the world, as nothing does more so than the jars and discords among Christians: wherefore the apostle advises to "mark" such persons, look out for, narrowly watch, strictly observe, and diligently examine them: the metaphor is taken from watchmen, who look out from their watch tower, and observe who are coming, or pass by, and take up suspicious persons, and carefully inquire who they are, and what they are about, and whether friends or foes. So both ministers of the Gospel, and members of churches, should not be asleep, which is the opportunity false teachers take to sow the seeds of false doctrine, discord, and contention, but should watch, and be upon their guard, and look diligently, that none among them fail of, or fall from, the doctrine of grace, or any root of bitterness, error, or heresy as well as immorality, spring up, which may be troublesome, and defile others; they should observe, and take notice of such who are busy to spread false doctrine, should watch their motions, follow them closely, take them to an account, examine their principles according to the word of God; and if found to be contrary thereunto, note them as false teachers: and avoid them; shun their ministry, drop attendance on it, depart far from them, have no private conversation with them, receive them not into their houses, nor bid them God speed; with such do not eat, have no communion with them at the Lord's table, withdraw from them as disorderly persons, who act contrary to the doctrine and order of the Gospel, and after proper admonition reject them from all fellowship with you.

 Commentaries: "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them."

Summary

May you walk orderly and obey the master our Lord. You know there are lots of different denominations and the small remnant as well as described in scripture. Talking about biblical Christianity.  Honor the gospel. Preach the word in season and out. How many can really put on Christ and obey?  

Updated 11:21/11:44  today

Woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

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