Teks -- Romans 16:18 (NET)

16:18 For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rom 16:18 - But their own belly

But their own belly ( alla tēi heautōn koiliāi ).

Dative case after douleuousin . A blunt phrase like the same picture in Phi 3:19 "whose god is the belly,"more truth than caricature in some cases.

Robertson: Rom 16:18 - By their smooth and fair speech

By their smooth and fair speech ( dia tēs chrēstologias kai eulogias ).

Two compounds of logos (speech), the first (from chrēstos and logos ) is very rare (here only in N.T.), the second is very common (eu and logos ).

Robertson: Rom 16:18 - Beguile

Beguile ( exapatōsin ).

Present active indicative of the double compound verb exapataō (see note on 2Th 2:3; 1Co 3:18).

Robertson: Rom 16:18 - Of the innocent

Of the innocent ( tōn akakōn ).

Old adjective (a privative and kakos ), without evil or guile, in N.T. only here and Heb 7:26 (of Christ).

Vincent: Rom 16:18 - Belly

Belly

Compare Phi 3:19.

Vincent: Rom 16:18 - Good words

Good words ( χρηστολογίας )

Only here in the New Testament. Lit., good speaking . The compounded adjective χρης τός is used rather in its secondary sense of mild , pleasant . So Rev., smooth speech .

Vincent: Rom 16:18 - Deceive

Deceive ( ἐξαπατῶσιν )

Better, as Rev., beguile . It is not merely making a false impression, but practically leading astray

Vincent: Rom 16:18 - Simple

Simple ( ἀκάκων )

Only here and Heb 7:26. Lit., not evil . Rev., innocent . Bengel says: " An indifferent word. They are called so who are merely without positive wickedness, when they ought to abound also in prudence, and to guard against other men's wickedness."

Wesley: Rom 16:18 - By good words

Concerning themselves, making great promises.

Wesley: Rom 16:18 - And fair speeches

Concerning you, praising and flattering you.

Wesley: Rom 16:18 - The harmless

Who, doing no ill themselves, are not upon their guard against them that do.

JFB: Rom 16:18 - For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ

"our Lord Christ" appears to be the true reading.

JFB: Rom 16:18 - but their own belly

Not in the grosset sense, but as "living for low ends of their own" (compare Phi 3:19).

JFB: Rom 16:18 - and by good words and fair speeches deceive the simple

The unwary, the unsuspecting. (See Pro 14:15).

Clarke: Rom 16:18 - They - serve not our Lord Jesus

They - serve not our Lord Jesus - They profess to be apostles, but they are not apostles of Christ; they neither do his will, nor preach his doctrine; they serve their own belly - they hate intruded themselves into the Church of Christ that they might get a secular support; it is for worldly gain alone that they take up the profession of the ministry: they have no Divine credentials; they convert not the heathen nor the ungodly, for they have no Divine unction; but by good words and fair speeches (for they have no miraculous nor saving powers) deceive the hearts of the simple, perverting Christian converts, that they may get their property, and thus secure a maintenance for themselves. The Church of God has ever been troubled with such pretended pastors - men who Feed themselves, not the flock; men who are too proud to beg, and too lazy to work; who have neither grace nor gifts to plant the standard of the cross on the devil’ s territories, and by the power of Christ make inroads upon his kingdom, and spoil him of his subjects. On the contrary, by sowing the seeds of dissension, by means of doubtful disputations, and the propagation of scandals; by glaring and insinuating speeches, χρηστολογιας, for they affect elegance and good breeding, they rend Christian congregations, form a party for themselves, and thus live on the spoils of the Church of God

Should it be asked, Whom do you intend by this description? I answer: No soul, nor party, but such as the description suits. Irasceris.? - De Te fabula narratur . O, you are angry, are you? O, then, the cap fits you - put it on.

Calvin: Rom 16:18 - For they who are such, etc

18.For they who are such, etc He mentions an unvarying mark, by which false prophets are to be distinguished from the servants of Christ; for they have no care for the glory of Christ, but seek the benefit of their stomach. As, however, they deceitfully crept in, and by assuming another character, concealed their own wickedness, he at the same time pointed out, in order that no one might be deceived, the arts which they adopted — that they ingratiated themselves by a bland address. The preachers of the gospel have also their courtesy and their pleasing manner, but joined with honesty, so that they neither soothe men with vain praises, nor flatter their vices: but impostors allure men by flattery, and spare and indulge their vices, that they may keep them attached to themselves. He calls those simple who are not cautious enough to avoid deceptions.

Defender: Rom 16:18 - their own belly

Those who cause such dissensions and scandals in the church often appear to be pious and talented devotees of Jesus Christ, while in reality they are self-centered and ambitious seekers of personal prestige or power. Paul says mark them, and avoid them.

Defender: Rom 16:18 - fair speeches

Those who promote doctrinal tangents or worldly morality in the church often have charismatic personalities and are attractive in speech, able to "beguile" (more accurate connotation than "deceive") those who are naive in their attitude toward Scripture and toward smooth-talking teachings. Christians need to learn to test all teaching by Scripture, taken in full context with other Scripture (Isa 8:20 and Act 17:11)."

TSK: Rom 16:18 - serve // but // by // the simple

serve : Mat 6:24; Joh 12:26; Gal 1:10; Phi 2:21; Col 3:24; Jam 1:1; Jud 1:1; Rev 1:1

but : 1Sa 2:12-17, 1Sa 2:29; Isa 56:10-12; Eze 13:19; Hos 4:8-11; Mic 3:5; Mal 1:10; Mat 24:48-51; Phi 3:19; 1Ti 6:5; 2Pe 2:10-15; Jud 1:12

by : 2Ch 18:5, 2Ch 18:12-17; Isa 30:10,Isa 30:11; Jer 8:10,Jer 8:11, Jer 23:17, Jer 28:1-9, Jer 28:15-17; Eze 13:16; Mic 3:5; Mat 7:15, Mat 24:11, Mat 24:24; 2Co 2:17, 2Co 4:2, 2Co 11:13-15; Col 2:4; 2Th 2:10; 1Ti 6:5; 2Ti 2:16-18, 2Ti 3:2-6; Tit 1:10-12; 2Pe 2:3, 2Pe 2:18-20; 1Jo 4:1-3; Jud 1:16

the simple : Rom 16:19; Psa 19:7, Psa 119:130; Pro 8:5, Pro 14:15, Pro 22:3; 2Co 11:3

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rom 16:18 - By good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple

In this verse you have a reason of the foregoing admonition, together with a description of the seducers, whom they should mark and avoid. He says, they are such as

serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly i.e. they serve themselves rather than Christ. Though they pretend to be the servants of Jesus Christ, and give themselves out for his ministers, yet they aim at nothing but their own commodity and advantage. A further account you have of such persons in Phi 3:19 1Ti 6:5 Tit 1:11 2Pe 2:3 .

By good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple: q.d. As Satan insinuated into Eve, by pretending he wished her good; so these seducers pretend they aim at nothing but the good and benefit of those with whom they have to do: with smooth and flattering words, they praise both the persons and doings of those whom they would insnare, (so much the word eulogia , here used, imports), and by this means they impose upon the simple, i.e. the over credulous and unwary, who do not mistrust any deceit or hurt. The word here rendered simple, properly signifies such as are not evil, or that are incautious, and not suspicious.

Gill: Rom 16:18 - 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

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,.... They do not preach him, but themselves; they do not seek the things of Christ, his honour and glory, the spread of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his kingdom and interest; they seek their own things, worldly honour and applause, riches, wealth, and grandeur; they seek to please men, and so are not the servants of Christ: they introduced the observance of meats and drinks in to the kingdom of Christ, which it do not consist of, and neglected the doctrines of righteousness and peace, from whence springs joy in the Holy Ghost, and so in these spiritual things did not serve Christ; and therefore, as they were not acceptable to God, were not to be approved of by Christian men, but to be marked and avoided:

but their own belly; which they made a god of, and devoted themselves to the service of all their views were to gratify and indulge their sensual appetite. The false teachers among the Jews were particularly addicted to this vice: hence the apostle sometimes calls them dogs, Phi 3:2, on account of their voraciousness, and who, in Isaiah's time, were greedy ones that could never have enough, Isa 56:11; and in our Lord's time devoured widows' houses, under a pretence of long prayers for them, Mat 23:14; and were like the Cretians, evil beasts, and slow bellies, Tit 1:12, unwilling to labour, and lived upon the spoil of others:

and by good words, and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple: they were deceivers; they lay in wait to deceive, made use of the hidden things of dishonesty, walked in craftiness, and handled the word of God deceitfully; and therefore to be marked and avoided: they deceived "the simple", harmless, and innocent, that think no evil, nor are aware of any; who have little understanding of things; persons of weak minds, easy to be imposed upon; very credulous, ready to believe every word, so the simple man does, as Solomon says, Pro 14:15; and such false teachers choose to tamper with, and make their attacks upon, being able to gain upon them the most easily, as their father the devil, the old serpent, did, when he first assailed human nature: the "hearts" of these they deceive; they work upon their affections, blind their understandings, impose on their judgments, and corrupt their minds from the simplicity that is in Christ: and this they do "by good words and fair speeches"; either by making use of the words of Scripture, and a show of arguments taken from thence; so Satan cited Scripture in his dispute with our Lord; and so heretics, in all ages, have pretended toil in favour of their principles, by which means they have gained on many to follow their pernicious ways; or by using words and phrases that faithful ministers of Christ use, such as the grace of God, the righteousness of Christ, the Spirit of Christ, but in a different sense; as some among us now frequently make mention of them, when they mean no more by them than the light of nature within them, and the dictates of a natural conscience; or by an elegant style, a set of fine words, a flow of rhetorical expressions, great swelling words of vanity, which such men generally affect, and so work themselves into the admiration of the common people; or by doctrines suited to the carnal minds and reasonings of men, which tickle human nature, and swell it with pride and vanity; as by preaching up the purity and power of it, asserting man's free will, and the strength of it to that which is good; the capacity of man to keep the law, and perform good works; justification by them before God, and acceptance with him, on account of them; atonement for sins committed, by repentance and reformation; that God does not regard trifling things, some sins are venial, and easily passed over; that concupiscence is no sin; God does not rigorously exact duty, he takes the will for the deed, and is merciful unto all, and if but sincere, there is no doubt of heaven; and such men, generally speaking, instead of correcting vice, and reproving men for their sins, connive at them, indulge them in them, soothe and flatter, commend and defend them, whereby they attach them to their persons and interest.