“AVOID” (Rom.16:17-18)

In featuring use of the word ‘avoid’, applied to believers in Romans 16, we draw attention to similar injunctions in 1 Cor.5 and 2 Thess.3. The effect in all three instances is the same, viz. that saints are not to keep company with believers who are marked by the excesses of carnality mentioned in each letter. The offences are as follows:

Division – Romans 16:17.

Immorality, covetousness, idolatry, reviling, drunkenness and extortion – 1 Cor.5:11.

Disorderly behaviour and disobeying apostolic instruction – 2 Thess.3:6,14.

However, our present exercise is to examine use of the word ‘avoid’ in Romans 16.

It is perhaps more than coincidence that the epistle to the Romans was written from Corinth, an assembly where division was rife. It may well be that this brief reference to division in the final chapter of the apostle’s letter was an instruction to the saints in how to deal with the problem should it arise, rather than with an actual occurence of it at Rome. Certainly, this brief reference stands in contrast to the many greetings which form the major content of the chapter. However, it was a serious matter – borne out by events at Corinth – that needed to be addressed, in common with all intrusions of the flesh among the saints.

Division is a work of the flesh in which believers behave like the unregenerate in spiritual matters, particularly in the house of God. Such behaviour arises from misconceptions about the nature of the divine system of Christianity, principally a failure to recognise that the natural gifts and reasonings of human nature, the flesh, are excluded. It is the error of Christendom, the sphere of naturalistic religion, perpetrated in the sphere of divine rule.

In v.17 the apostolic instruction is to mark or note those carnal believers who, by their naturalistic behaviour, cause division and stumblingblocks or snares and avoid them. The effect of their carnal activity is to attract a following among the immature and vulnerable saints. As the old order of humanity, the flesh, has no legitimate place in the sphere of the new man it follows that there can be no meaningful fellowship with those who walk in the flesh.

In v.18 the characteristics of these carnal believers are described. They “serve their own belly”, i.e. they are self-serving, egotistic and motivated by natural rather than spiritual instincts. In the apostle’s day they would likely be Judaisers. In our day their counterparts are no doubt naturally pleasant folk, well suited to a social type of religious environment and with a corresponding naturalistic approach to Scripture but, lacking in spiritual ability, they are in reality a menace to the saints.

In keeping with their naturalistic tendencies, these men are marked by oratory and flattering speech which deceives the innocent, the spiritually immature, the inexperienced. Their lengthy orations appear impressive and are calculated to be so, whilst their flattering speech is such that it appeals to the natural instincts, the hearts, of the vulnerable, but none of it to edification. The fleshly nature of this activity is unrecognised by those whose minds are not exercised to judge between good and evil at the spiritual level and so they are deceived.

The carnal believer does not recognise or understand the spiritual nature of the house of God and consequently does not know how to behave in that environment. Such men exercise natural gifts and abilities among the saints and baulk at genuine spirituality and its exercises. They persuade the young, the unlearned and the inexperienced to follow naturalistic interpretations of the Word, which is a ministry of death in the spiritual sense.

The very presence of such naturalistic men spells division among the saints because it is an alien presence in the house of God. They aredivision, they represent it, they cause it, they guarantee it. Scripture says “Avoid them”.