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Verse

Romans 16:18

ESV For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
NIV For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
NASB For such people are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
CSB because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
NLT Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
KJV For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
NKJV For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

What does Romans 16:18 mean?

Paul is offering some last-minute instruction to his readers about the dangers of false teachers. These are people who come among Christians and teach distorted versions of Christian truth as it had been taught by Paul and the other apostles. Paul had encountered such deceivers in many places, though it is not clear if they had reached the church in Rome, yet. It is also not clear which specific false teachings Paul is thinking of.

One temptation faced when encountering false teachers is to think they are sincere Christians who are simply offering a slightly different view, perhaps a better understanding, of the same great truths. Paul rejects that idea. The false teachers he has in mind do not in any way serve Christ. Instead, they serve their own appetites.

Perhaps by appetites, Paul means to show that these false teachers are most interested in sensual experiences, referring to literal appetites for food, drink, sexual experience, and money. Or perhaps he means that their end goal is to use deception to eventually gain financially from their false teaching, increasing their ability to serve their appetites. Most importantly, they do not serve the Lord.

The real problem with the false teachers is that they are effective. Those young or immature in their faith in Christ are most vulnerable to their attack. These teachers are good talkers, smooth and articulate and convincing. They use flattery, heaping on the compliments and false respect. Those not experienced with this sales tactic buy in and are deceived, led away from the truth and faith in Christ.

Paul's prescription from the previous verse stands. Believers must avoid these deceptive teachers. Engaging with them and allowing them to linger in the community is too dangerous for the church (Galatians 1:8–9; 1 Timothy 6:3–4).
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