June 15, 2011 – Romans 16

16:17-18 I take from this warning to watch out for those that want to teach something that is opposed to the authority of the Church. Paul is saying that there is a certain teaching that is true and that it is authoritative and it is what he is following and that any dissension from this is to be guarded against. He says that people who teach their own way or against this authority are fulfilling their own appetites and deceive the hearts of the innocent. So we do not see Paul in favor of a nondenominational church or a church that is divided into many thousands of different denominations, we see Paul in favor of a Church that is one and has teaching authority and warning against anybody that goes against its authority. For all of his arguing against those that feel the Gentiles must conform to the Jewish law and arguing against the balance of faith and works of law throughout Romans, here at the end we see him telling the Romans that there is a way of doing things and a leadership that is not to be diverged from. Martin Luther was not the first person to challenge the authority of the Church nor is he last, but he is one that has a substantial impact in how Christianity looks today. You wonder what people thought of Martin Luther and how they interpreted this warning of Paul when he came up with his own teachings and beliefs. It seems that Paul's warning was basically against exactly the thing that Luther did and exactly for the reasons for what Luther's actions led to.