Romans 16:17-27

¹⁷ Now I encourage you, brothers, to watch out for those who are causing the divisions and putting up stumbling blocks contrary to the teaching that you learned. Turn away from them! ¹⁸ Because these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the immature. ¹⁹ Your obedience is known to all and for this reason I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and untainted in what is evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. ²¹ Timothy, my coworker, greets you; so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. ²² I, Tertius, who am transcribing this letter, greet you in the Lord. ²³ Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer and our brother Quartus greet you. ²⁴ [1] ²⁵ Now to him who is able to strengthen you as I teach when I share the gospel and proclaim Jesus Christ, according to the revealed mystery that had been kept secret for long ages, ²⁶ but now has appeared, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, as the eternal God has commanded, to bring about obedient believers– ²⁷ to the only wise God, on account of Jesus Christ, be praised forever! Amen.

obstacles to maturity

Paul’s closing warning and statement of confidence strike with unusual force because they expose a pattern that still troubles the church today. The relevance is unmistakable, yet it cuts so close to familiar habits that many prefer not to linger over it.

Paul’s aim is clear: he longs for mature, obedient believers whose lives have been reshaped by the gospel he has taught. His entire letter has been driving toward this goal—faith that produces transformed minds, renewed relationships, and a community that reflects the character of Christ. But Paul knows that such maturity never goes uncontested. The enemy is determined to prevent it. Satan has resolved that the church will remain fractured, distracted, and spiritually stunted. Yet God has resolved something greater: the adversary will be crushed under the feet of God’s faithful ones. The victory belongs to the Lord, but He grants His people the privilege of participating in it.

Paul acknowledges that some within the church will seem to have no purpose other than stirring up factions. Their influence is subtle but corrosive. They push their preferred side, elevate their own opinions, and create loyalties that compete with loyalty to Christ. Paul does not merely tell believers to avoid the divisions; he tells them to turn away from the people who insist on promoting them. The danger is not only the division itself but the divisive spirit that feeds it.

Others within the church will speak or act in ways that hinder growth rather than nurture it. Their teaching or behavior becomes an obstacle to obedience, a stumbling block to those who genuinely desire maturity. Paul warns the church to turn away from these influences as well. The goal is not isolation but protection—guarding the community from voices that undermine the work of the Spirit.

The irony is painful: attempts to obey Paul’s instructions can themselves become occasions for pride, suspicion, or harshness. In trying to avoid division, believers sometimes create new divisions. In trying to guard maturity, they sometimes place obstacles before those who are sincerely seeking it. Paul’s words expose this tension without offering simplistic solutions.

The good news is that God remains at work. His faithfulness does not depend on flawless execution by His people. If believers stay true to Him—seeking His wisdom, resisting the pull of factions, and pursuing obedience—He will strengthen and mature them despite failures, misunderstandings, and the presence of divisive voices.

LORD, we want to be strong and mature in our faith. We want to be obedient believers. Show us how to avoid divisions and distractions.

[1] This verse is omitted from the most trustworthy manuscripts of Romans.