Read & explore together
Avoid Divisions
Believers are told to stay alert when teaching or influence leads people away from what they have learned. These verses contrast divisive deception with obedience, goodness, innocence from evil, and the peace and grace given by God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage is direct instruction addressed to fellow believers. The writer warns them about people who cause divisions and stumbling contrary to the doctrine they learned. He then speaks of their well-known obedience, expresses joy over them, and closes with words about peace, Satan’s defeat, and grace.
Romans 16:17–20Main takeaway
Believers should recognise and avoid influence that opposes what they have learned, while growing in obedience, goodness, and innocence from evil.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Look out and turn awayThe passage opens with a strong appeal to “look out” for people who are causing divisions and occasions of stumbling.
Explanation
The passage opens with a strong appeal to “look out” for people who are causing divisions and occasions of stumbling. The problem is identified clearly: their influence is “contrary to the doctrine which you learned”. The response is also clear. Believers are told to notice this danger and “turn away from them”.
02Their speech can deceiveThe writer explains why this warning matters. These people “don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly”, showing self-serving direction rather than service to Christ.
Explanation
The writer explains why this warning matters. These people “don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly”, showing self-serving direction rather than service to Christ. Their words may sound appealing, because they use “smooth and flattering speech”, yet that speech “deceive[s] the hearts of the innocent”.
03Obedience, wisdom, and innocenceThe tone then includes encouragement. The believers’ “obedience has become known to all”, and the writer says, “I rejoice therefore over you.”
Explanation
The tone then includes encouragement. The believers’ “obedience has become known to all”, and the writer says, “I rejoice therefore over you.” Even so, he wants them to keep growing, being “wise in that which is good” and “innocent in that which is evil”. Both qualities are part of faithful living here.
04Peace, defeat of Satan, and graceThe closing words point beyond human effort to God’s action. God is called “the God of peace”, and the promise says he “will quickly crush Satan under your feet”.
Explanation
The closing words point beyond human effort to God’s action. God is called “the God of peace”, and the promise says he “will quickly crush Satan under your feet”. The final blessing is, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” The warning ends with peace, victory, and grace.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two actions are believers told to take when they see divisions and stumbling contrary to what they learned?
Read the commands in Romans 16:17 and notice both the need to recognise the people and the instruction about how to respond.
02How are the motives and methods of these people described?
Use the exact wording in Romans 16:18 about whom they serve and how their speech affects innocent hearts.
03What does the writer want for the believers, and how does the passage end with hope?
Connect the desire in Romans 16:19 with the closing words in Romans 16:20 about God of peace, Satan, and grace.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 16:17–20
17Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.
18For those who are such don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
19For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.
20And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.