Romans 16:1-27

 Romans 16:1-27

When we think of church, we generally think of a specific building, in a specific location, with a group of people meeting for a specific time. That would have been unrecognizable to Paul. The church in Rome was a network of relationships, connections, and loyalties between what we would consider small groups or home churches. Paul specifically greets about 20 people, and there is no reason to believe that this was the entire church. The church in Rome may have had scores of what we would call cells, all interconnected and mutually supportive but also living and working in different spheres. The arrangement would be more effective in disciple-making and would have supported the priesthood of every believer and would have been very important in the years to come during persecution.

Into this open network of churches, sooner or later, some bad actors would show up. Paul describes them as people who cause “dissensions” and “hindrances.”. The word dissension literally means “standing apart” on non-important issues. This word is only used twice in the New Testament, here and in Galatians, where it is listed with the works of the flesh. It is a sad wonder that churches that would never put up with idolatry, witchcraft, drunkenness, or sexual misconduct will tolerate or even elevate a person who causes “dissensions.” The word “hindrance” is the Greek word from which we get “scandal”; it means a stumbling block. These people look for reasons to have the believers in a squabble over some scandal. They do not want to work things out, which is what they may claim based on what we see in verse 18. Rather, they want to enhance their power by means of agitation and conflict.

In verse 20, Paul talks about the crushing of the powers of darkness under the feet of the believers. This verse is often quoted in reference to “spiritual warfare.” But we need to pay attention to the context. In verses 17–19, Paul talks about two things before he talks about the defeat of the powers of darkness. The key to the defeat of the enemy is the unity of the church and holiness in God’s people. We can ramble on about spiritual warfare, recite clichés, and declare the enemy’s defeat, but unless we are united in the body of Christ and our living lives of holiness, then the enemy will only laugh at the show that we put on.

“Lord, grant that I will live in unity and holiness and by these work against the powers of darkness. Amen.”