Romans 16:18

Paul exposes such people as serving their own appetites rather than Christ, deceiving the naive with smooth and flattering speech. It teaches that false teachers are driven by self-interest and use charm to mislead.

Cross-references · 40

• Col 2:4Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
• Matt 7:15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
• Mic 3:5Yahweh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him:
• 1 Tim 6:5constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
• Phil 3:19whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
• 2 Pet 2:3In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.
• 2 Tim 3:2–6For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
• Jude 1:16These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
• 2 Th 2:10and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
• 2 Pet 2:18–20For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
• Gal 1:10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
• Hos 4:8–11They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
• Titus 1:10–12For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
• 2 Cor 11:13–15For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.
• Matt 24:24For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
• Jude 1:12These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
• 2 Tim 2:16–18But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
• Isa 30:10–11who tell the seers, “Don’t see!” and to the prophets, “Don’t prophesy to us right things. Tell us pleasant things. Prophesy deceits.
• Ezek 13:19You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’
• Isa 56:10–12His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
• Prov 22:3A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
• Jer 8:10–11Therefore will I give their wives to others, and their fields to those who shall possess them. For everyone from the least even to the greatest is given to covetousness; from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.
• Phil 2:21For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.
• 2 Pet 2:10–15but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries;
• Jer 28:15–17Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
• Ps 119:130The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
• 2 Chr 18:12–17The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Let your word therefore, please be like one of theirs, and speak good.”
• Rom 16:19For 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.
• Ezek 13:16to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,’” says the Lord Yahweh.’”
• 1 Sam 2:12–17Now the sons of Eli were wicked men. They didn’t know Yahweh.
• Prov 8:5You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.
• Col 3:24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
• 1 Jn 4:1–3Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
• 2 Chr 18:5Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” They said, “Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
• John 12:26If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
• Matt 24:48–51But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’
• 1 Sam 2:29Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?’
• Ps 19:7Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
• 2 Cor 2:17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
• Jer 28:1–9That same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me in Yahweh’s house, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

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