Romans 16:19
For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul commends their obedience, but then urges them to be "wise as to what is good" while remaining "innocent as to what is evil." This doesn't mean being ignorant of evil, but rather being pure and uncontaminated by it, like a clear stream, even after encountering it.
Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Romans, and after a series of instructions and greetings, he gives a final, heartfelt exhortation. He commends the believers in Rome for their known obedience to the faith, expressing his joy in their steadfastness, but he also wants to equip them to discern and resist false teachers who would seek to deceive them. This verse serves as a bridge, acknowledging their current good standing while gently nudging them toward even greater wisdom and purity in the face of potential spiritual danger lurking ahead.
Paul praises the Roman believers for their widespread obedience. Yet, he doesn't stop there. He adds a crucial layer of wisdom. What does this say about the life of faith?
Paul opens by acknowledging the Romans' deep and noticeable obedience to the truth they've received. This obedience is a beautiful testament to their transformed lives and a source of joy for him. It shows they are not easily swayed by every new teaching that comes their way.
Trust Built on Truth
But Paul’s encouragement isn't just a pat on the back. He uses their strong obedience as a foundation for a further instruction: "I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." This isn't a contradiction; it's a development. Their obedience has earned them a certain confidence and reputation, but that very reputation can make them targets. True spiritual maturity isn't just about doing what's right; it's also about having the wisdom to know how to navigate a world filled with both good and evil.
Paul tells the Romans to be "innocent as to what is evil." This doesn't mean being ignorant or naive. What's the surprising, active nature of this kind of innocence?
The Greek word Paul uses for "innocent" (or "simple") here isn't about being clueless. It describes a state of being unmixed, uncontaminated, and pure.
Active Purity, Not Passive Ignorance
Think of it like pure, unadulterated gold. It hasn't been mixed with lesser metals. In the same way, Christians are called to be pure in their dealings with evil—not by having no contact with it, but by resisting its influence and remaining untainted by its schemes.
This means being wise about good: actively pursuing what is right, discerning truth, and understanding how to promote goodness. It also means being innocent about evil: not harboring evil intentions, not devising wicked plans, and having a deep-seated aversion to wrongdoing, even when encountering it. It's a strength rooted in a love for God and a hatred for sin, a purity that has been tested and remains steadfast.
Understand the original words
hypakoē · Greek Noun
The act of submitting one's life, will, and conduct to the truth and commandments of God as revealed through the gospel.
Jesus tells His disciples to be 'wise as serpents and innocent as doves,' directly paralleling Paul's exhortation to the Romans to be 'wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.'
1 Corinthians 14:20Paul encourages the Corinthian church to 'not be infants in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature,' echoing the same theme of distinguishing between good and evil and maintaining maturity in faith.
Philippians 2:15This passage urges believers to be 'blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,' aligning with the Romans' call to be 'innocent as to what is evil' while shining as lights in the world.
Colossians 1:9Paul prays that the Colossians would be 'filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and understanding,' which supports the Roman believers' need to be 'wise as to what is good' and discerning in their faith.
ellicottRomans 16:19: "For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil."
(19) No harm has been done as yet. Still it is well to be upon your guard. Simple concerning evil.—This is not at all the same word as that which is translated “simple” above. The first is that freedom from dishonest motives which makes a man an unsuspecting and easy prey for designing persons, and applies rather t…
vincentRomans 16:19: "For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil."
Simple (ἀκεραίους)See on harmless, Matthew 10:16.
Paul commends their obedience, but then urges them to be "wise as to what is good" while remaining "innocent as to what is evil." This doesn't mean being ignorant of evil, but rather being pure and uncontaminated by it, like a clear stream, even after encountering it.
Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Romans, and after a series of instructions and greetings, he gives a final, heartfelt exhortation. He commends the believers in Rome for their known obedience to the faith, expressing his joy in their steadfastness, but he also wants to equip them to discern and resist false teachers who would seek to deceive them. This verse serves as a bridge, acknowledging their current good standing while gently nudging them toward even greater wisdom and purity in the face of potential spiritual danger lurking ahead.
Paul is wrapping up his letter to the Romans, and after a series of instructions and greetings, he gives a final, heartfelt exhortation. He commends the believers in Rome for their known obedience to the faith, expressing his joy in their steadfastness, but he also wants to equip them to discern and resist false teachers who would seek to deceive them. This verse serves as a bridge, acknowledging their current good standing while gently nudging them toward even greater wisdom and purity in the face of potential spiritual danger lurking ahead.
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"For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." — Paul commends their obedience, but then urges them to be "wise as to what is good" while remaining "innocent as to what is evil." This doesn't mean being ignorant of evil, but rather being pure and u…
