Romans 16:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

NIV: For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

NASB: For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

CSB: because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.

NLT: Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

KJV: For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

NKJV: For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Paul is offering some last-minute instruction to his readers about the dangers of false teachers. These are people who come among Christians and teach distorted versions of Christian truth as it had been taught by Paul and the other apostles. Paul had encountered such deceivers in many places, though it is not clear if they had reached the church in Rome, yet. It is also not clear which specific false teachings Paul is thinking of.

One temptation faced when encountering false teachers is to think they are sincere Christians who are simply offering a slightly different view, perhaps a better understanding, of the same great truths. Paul rejects that idea. The false teachers he has in mind do not in any way serve Christ. Instead, they serve their own appetites.

Perhaps by appetites, Paul means to show that these false teachers are most interested in sensual experiences, referring to literal appetites for food, drink, sexual experience, and money. Or perhaps he means that their end goal is to use deception to eventually gain financially from their false teaching, increasing their ability to serve their appetites. Most importantly, they do not serve the Lord.

The real problem with the false teachers is that they are effective. Those young or immature in their faith in Christ are most vulnerable to their attack. These teachers are good talkers, smooth and articulate and convincing. They use flattery, heaping on the compliments and false respect. Those not experienced with this sales tactic buy in and are deceived, led away from the truth and faith in Christ.

Paul's prescription from the previous verse stands. Believers must avoid these deceptive teachers. Engaging with them and allowing them to linger in the community is too dangerous for the church (Galatians 1:8–9; 1 Timothy 6:3–4).

Romans 16:17–23 includes last-minute instruction from Paul and greetings to those in Rome from the men with him in Corinth. Before closing the letter, Paul urgently warns his readers to be on the watch for false teachers; to avoid them. These people do not serve Christ and will deceive the naive with their distorted version of Christian truth, thus dividing the church. Paul sends greetings from Timothy, his longtime partner and student in ministry. Paul also sends greetings from his host in Corinth and several other friends and co-workers.

The final chapter of Romans contains four sections intended to wrap up the letter. Paul commends the woman who will deliver the letter and then sends greetings to many people he knows in Rome. After last-minute, urgent instruction about false teachers, Paul sends greetings to the Roman Christians from those who are with him in Corinth, including Timothy. Paul closes out the letter with a hymn of praise to the God who has revealed to all the nations of the earth the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

Prior verses detailed Paul's plans to visit Rome and asked for prayer. This text concludes his letter to the Christians in Rome with four quick sections. He sends his greetings to a list of people he knows, or at least knows of, in Rome. Paul offers last-minute instruction about false teachers. He sends greetings from those who are with him in Corinth. And he closes out the letter with a beautiful praise hymn to the God who has revealed the mystery of the gospel of Jesus to all nations so that all might obey faith in Jesus.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.