Romans 16:17-25: a reflection

17Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. 18For those who are such don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent. 19For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. 20And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 21Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. 22I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. 23Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen.

Paul, closing his letter, gives a warning and a wish. He warns them to watch out for those who cause divisions and stumbling, who serve their own appetites and use smooth, flattering speech to deceive the unsuspecting. And he expresses his desire for them: I want you to be wise as to what is good, and innocent as to what is evil. He wants them both discerning and pure, wise about good, but not experienced in evil.

Notice the balance Paul wants: wise as to good, innocent as to evil. He does not want them naive, easily deceived by smooth talkers and divisive people; he wants them wise, discerning, able to recognize what is good and what is not. But neither does he want them to gain their wisdom by dabbling in evil, becoming worldly-wise through experience of sin; he wants them innocent as to evil, uncorrupted by it. Wise about good, but not schooled in evil: that is the balance.

That balance is a wise aim for us. We can err toward naivete, so innocent that we are easily deceived, unable to recognize the smooth talkers and divisive influences that would lead us astray; and we can err the other way, gaining a certain worldly wisdom by dabbling in evil, becoming experienced in sin. But Paul's aim is better: to be wise as to good, discerning and not naive, yet innocent as to evil, not schooled in sin. Seek that balance: be discerning, not naive, able to recognize what is good and to see through those who would deceive you; but do not gain your wisdom by dabbling in evil. Be wise about good, and innocent of evil, as Paul desired; discerning enough not to be deceived, yet pure enough not to be corrupted. Grow in the wisdom that recognizes good and sees through deception, while keeping yourself innocent of the evil that would school you at the cost of your purity.

Lord, Paul warned the Romans to watch out for those who cause divisions and use smooth, flattering speech to deceive the unsuspecting, and expressed his desire that they be wise as to what is good, and innocent as to what is evil. Help me seek that balance. I can err toward naivete, so innocent that I am easily deceived, unable to recognize the smooth talkers and divisive influences that would lead me astray; and I can err the other way, gaining a certain worldly wisdom by dabbling in evil, becoming experienced in sin. But Paul's aim is better: to be wise as to good, discerning and not naive, yet innocent as to evil, not schooled in sin. Help me seek that balance: to be discerning, not naive, able to recognize what is good and to see through those who would deceive me; but not to gain my wisdom by dabbling in evil. Help me be wise about good, and innocent of evil, as Paul desired; discerning enough not to be deceived, yet pure enough not to be corrupted. Help me grow in the wisdom that recognizes good and sees through deception, Lord, while keeping myself innocent of the evil that would school me at the cost of my purity.