Romans 16:17

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

a. [Amplified Bible] I appeal to you, brethren, to be on your guard concerning those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, in opposition to the doctrine (the teaching) which you have been taught. I warn you to turn aside from them, to avoid them.

b. [NIV] I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

c. [NLT] And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.

1. “Now I beseech you, brethren…”

a. Now [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. [I] beseech [Strong: 3870 parakaléō, par-ak-al-eh'-o; from G3844 and G2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):—beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.]

c. you [Strong: 5209 hymâs, hoo-mas'; accusative case of G5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):—ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

d. brethren [Strong:80 adelphós, ad-el-fos'; from G1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς delphýs (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like G1):—brother.]

2. “…mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned…”

a. mark [4648 * skopeo][Strong: to take aim at (spy), i.e. (figuratively) regard:--consider, take heed, look at (on), mark.] [Thayer:  to look at, observe, contemplate, to mark, to fix one's eyes upon, direct one's attention to, any one, to look to, take heed to thyself.]

1). This same Greek word is used also in Paul’s letter to the Philippians where he exhorts those believers to know the difference between those who should be examples to follow and those who are examples not to follow.

a). Philippians 3:17-19  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

3;18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

b. [them] which cause [Strong: 4160  poiéō, poy-eh'-o; apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):—abide, + agree, appoint, × avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, × journeying, keep, + lay wait, +lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, × secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.]

c. divisions [1370 * dichostasia; dicha-separately; stasis-dissension][Zodhiates: a separate faction, division, separation.][Thayer: dissension, division][Strong: disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension:--division, sedition.]

1). This Greek word is used in a couple other New Testament verses.

a) Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

b). 1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

d. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

e. offences [Strong: 4625 skandalon skan'-dal-on ("scandal;" probably from a derivative of 2578; a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin):--occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock.] [Thayer: the movable stick or trigger of a trap, a trap stick, a trap, snare, any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall, (a stumbling block, occasion of stumbling) i.e. a rock which is a cause of stumbling, fig. applied to Jesus Christ, whose person and career were so contrary to the expectations of the Jews concerning the Messiah, that they rejected him and by their obstinacy made shipwreck of their salvation, any person or thing by which one is (entrapped) drawn into error or sin.]

f. contrary [to] [3844 * para] [Thayer: from, of at, by, besides, near.] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.]

g. the [Strong: 3588 ho, ho; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):—the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

h. doctrine [1322 * didache][Thayer: teaching, that which is taught, doctrine, teaching, concerning something, the act of teaching, instruction, in religious assemblies of the Christians, to speak in the way of teaching, in distinction from other modes of speaking in public.]

1). The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to command those under him to teach no other doctrine.

a). 1 Timothy 1:3, 4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

i. which [Strong: 3739 hós, hos; probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:—one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

j. you [Strong: 5210 hymeîs, hoo-mice'; irregular plural of G4771; you (as subjective of verb):—ye (yourselves), you.]

k. [have] learned [3129 * manthano] [Strong: prolongation from a primary verb, another form of which, matheo, is used as an alternate in certain tenses; to learn (in any way):--learn, understand.] [Thayer: to learn, be apprised, to increase one's, knowledge, to be increased in knowledge, to hear, be informed, to learn by use and practice, to be in the habit of, accustomed to.]

2. “…and avoid them.”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. avoid [1578 * ekklino] [Strong: to deviate, i.e. (absolutely) to shun (literally or figuratively), or (relatively) to decline (from piety):--avoid, eschew, go out of the way.] [Thayer: to turn aside, deviate (from the right way and course), to turn (one's self) away, to turn away from, keep aloof from one's society, to shun one.]

c. [Strong: 575 apó, apo'; a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):—(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with.]

d. them [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

1). There are a few warnings in the letters of Paul concerning things believers should stay away from, avoid, shun, whether it is people or what those people preach.

a). 2 Timothy 2:16-18 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

b). 2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.