For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I rejoice on your behalf; but I want you to be wise as to what is good, and innocent concerning evil.
Truth to Learn
It is important for all Christians to be growing in our faith daily by reading and studying the Bible.
Behind the Words
“Obedience” is translated from the Greek noun hupakoē. This is a compound word made up of hupo, meaning “under or beneath” and a form of akouō, meaning “to listen or to hear.” It is a picture of a student listening under the teaching of an instructor. In common usage, it means “listening attentively” or “being obedient to a teacher or master.”
The expression “has become known” is from the verb aphikneomai, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and a form of hikanos, meaning “to arrive.” So, this word means “to arrive from or to reach a destination.” A literal translation of the opening part of this verse would be, “For your obedience reached to all.”
“Innocent” is translated from akeraios. This word is made up of the privative a, meaning “without” and the verb kerannumi, meaning “to mix.” Thus, akeraios means “without mixture,” that is, “without any deceit” or “innocent and pure.”
Meaning Explained
You will recall that Paul has just told the Christians at Rome to be on the lookout for people who cause division within the body of Christ and who cause others to stumble in their walk with the Lord. A classic example of this is the type of people who come to your door with pamphlets and other literature proclaiming them to have the truth about God when, in fact, they are spreading false doctrine.
Part of Paul’s concern for these Christians in Rome is based on the fact that they have a reputation for being attentive listeners and applying themselves to the teachings they learn. It is good for all Christians to want to learn more about God and how to have a closer walk with Him. But it is just as important to be able to discern between teachings that are truth and teachings that are deceptive. One kind of teaching builds up the body of Christ while the other tears it down and divides it. One sure way to identify these false teachers is that they often claim to have teaching and truth that most other Christians don’t have, sometimes in the form of additional books of Scripture.
Paul warned the Christians in Ephesus in a similar manner when he taught them about the spiritual gifts and the gifted people that God provides in each church so:
that we should no longer be infants, being tossed and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men in craftiness, with deceitful schemes, (Ephesians 4:14)
Instead of falling prey to such false teachers, Paul tells the Romans to be wise in what is good and to be innocent and pure concerning evil.
Application
There are some Christians who want to learn everything they can about false religions. Instead of that, Paul says we should learn all we can about true faith in God. The best way for us to do that is to read and study His Holy Word. Let’s commit to seeking a deeper relationship with God by spending time each and every day reading and studying the Bible.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2019 Will Krause. All rights reserved
