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Paul’s Warning - Romans 16:17
Paul’s Warning - Romans 16:17
Paul warns the brethren: “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” (Rom. 16:17).
· There was a REVEALED doctrine that was to serve as the standard of conduct for all brethren.
· The brethren in Rome had learned it.
· They not only were to LIVE by it, but to demand that each other would be faithful to such teaching.
· Those who refused to live by it were to be ‘turned away from’.
We read of this same concept in other places of the New Testament:
Galatians 1:8: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!”
2 Thessalonians 3:6: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.”
2 Thessalonians 3:14: “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.”
Titus 3:10: “Reject a factious man after a first and second warning…”.
2 John 1:10: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting…”
Paul had warned about false teacher, even among elders (Acts 20:29-30; 1Tim. 4:1-3, etc.). Peter warned about False teacher (2Pet. 2). John warns us to NOT believe EVERY spirit (1 John 4:1-2). This they received from Jesus who warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15-16).
All such discipline serves at least two purposes. First, it is a last major effort to bring about a change in the life and attitude of an erring brother. This is not always the result. Some just won’t listen, some just don’t care, some have too much pride to admit they were wrong and need to change. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t always restore the erring brother. BUT there is a second purpose involved in such major action by the congregation: to keep the faithful saints pure and holy. As Paul told the Corinthians: evil companions corrupt good morals (1Cor. 15 ). The influence of such a brother upon others can not just be dismissed or ignored; it happens, and it is dangerous.
I would also mention that such a step should have been preceded by much teaching, exhortation, reproof, and prayer. ‘Discipline’ is not just punishment, but entails all of the teaching, training, correcting that goes into bringing a babe in Christ to a mature, spiritually full-grown person.
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5)
Hugh DeLong
