SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:18
Porque los tales no sirven al Seor nuestro Jess, el Cristo, sino a sus vientres; y con suaves palabras y bendiciones engaan los corazones de los simples.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 16:18
Verse 18. 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, crhstologiav, 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ , etc..] 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, ( Philippians 3:2), on account of their voraciousness, and who, in Isaiah's time, were greedy ones that could never have enough, ( Isaiah 56:11); and in our Lord's time devoured widows' houses, under a pretence of long prayers for them, ( Matthew 23:14 Mark 12:40 Luke 20:47); and were like the Cretians, evil beasts, and slow bellies, ( Titus 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, ( Proverbs 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-20 - How earnest, how endearing are these exhortations! Whatever differ from the sound doctrine of the Scriptures, opens a door to division and offences. If truth be forsaken, unity and peace will not last long Many call Christ, Master and Lord, who are far from serving him. But they serve their carnal, sensual, worldly interests. They corrupt the head by deceiving the heart; perverting the judgments by windin themselves into the affections. We have great need to keep our heart with all diligence. It has been the common policy of seducers to se upon those who are softened by convictions. A pliable temper is goo when under good guidance, otherwise it may be easily led astray. Be s wise as not to be deceived, yet so simple as not to be deceivers. The blessing the apostle expects from God, is victory over Satan. Thi includes all designs and devices of Satan against souls, to defile disturb, and destroy them; all his attempts to keep us from the peac of heaven here, and the possession of heaven hereafter. When Sata seems to prevail, and we are ready to give up all as lost, then wil the God of peace interpose in our behalf. Hold out therefore, faith an patience, yet a little while. If the grace of Christ be with us, wh can prevail against us?
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 T-NPM γαρ 1063 CONJ τοιουτοι 5108 D-NPM τω 3588 T-DSM κυριω 2962 N-DSM ημων 2257 P-1GP ιησου 2424 N-DSM χριστω 5547 N-DSM ου 3756 PRT-N δουλευουσιν 1398 5719 V-PAI-3P αλλα 235 CONJ τη 3588 T-DSF εαυτων 1438 F-3GPM κοιλια 2836 N-DSF και 2532 CONJ δια 1223 PREP της 3588 T-GSF χρηστολογιας 5542 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ ευλογιας 2129 N-GSF εξαπατωσιν 1818 5719 V-PAI-3P τας 3588 T-APF καρδιας 2588 N-APF των 3588 T-GPM ακακων 172 A-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
18. Belly. Compare Philip. iii. 19.Good words (crhstologiav). Only here in the New Testament. Lit., good speaking. The compounded adjective crhs tov is used rather in its secondary sense of mild, pleasant So Rev., smooth speech.
Deceive (ejxapatwsin) Better, as Rev., beguile. It is not merely making a false impression, but practically leading astray Simple (akakwn). Only here and Heb. vii. 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."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:18 {But their own belly} (alla ti heaut"n koiliai). Dative case after douleuousin. A blunt phrase like the same picture in #Php 3:19 "whose god is the belly," more truth than caricature in some cases. {By their smooth and fair speech} (dia tes crestologias kai eulogias). Two compounds of logos (speech), the first (from crestos and logos) is very rare (here only in N.T.), the second is very common (eu and logos). {Beguile} (exapat"Sin). Present active indicative of the double compound verb exapataw (see #2Th 2:3; 1Co 3:18). {Of the innocent} (t"n akak"n). Old adjective (a privative and kakos), without evil or guile, in N.T. only here and #Heb 7:26 (of Christ).
