Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, σκοπεῖν τοὺς τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε ποιοῦντας, καὶ ἐκκλίνατε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν· (Romans 16:17)
Guarding the Church through Grammatical Clarity
Romans 16:17 is a pastoral appeal from Paul — not to embrace division, but to watch for it and reject it when it arises. The Greek text gives this warning with striking grammatical urgency: imperatives in the present tense, participles that define behavior, and a call to doctrinal discernment. The syntax supports the call to spiritual vigilance.
1. Pleading with the Church: Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί
- Παρακαλῶ – Present Active Indicative, 1st Person Singular of παρακαλέω, “I exhort,” “I urge”
- ὑμᾶς – Accusative 2nd Person Plural, “you all” (direct object)
- ἀδελφοί – “brothers,” a term of intimate address
The use of παρακαλῶ is warm yet authoritative — a pastoral appeal with moral weight, not just a suggestion.
2. Present Active Infinitive: σκοπεῖν
- σκοπεῖν – Present Active Infinitive of σκοπέω, “to watch,” “to keep an eye on,” “to mark”
In construction with παρακαλῶ, it functions as the content of the exhortation:
“I urge you to watch out for…”
The present tense suggests ongoing action — not a one-time inspection, but continuous alertness.
3. The Participial Description: τοὺς … ποιοῦντας
The object of σκοπεῖν is defined by a participial clause:
- τοὺς … ποιοῦντας – “those who are making” (present active participle, accusative masculine plural)
- τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα – “divisions and stumbling blocks”
- παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν – “contrary to the teaching”
- ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε – relative clause: “which you learned”
This identifies false teachers or divisive members by their actions:
“those causing divisions and offenses against the teaching you received”
The participle ποιοῦντας (doing/making) is present active — indicating ongoing disruptive behavior.
Relative Clause of Contrast: ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε
- ἐμάθετε – Aorist Active Indicative, 2nd Person Plural of μανθάνω, “you learned”
Paul grounds his warning in the apostolic tradition the Romans already know. The contrast is clear:
Stick with what you learned — reject what contradicts it.
Imperative of Separation: καὶ ἐκκλίνατε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν
- ἐκκλίνατε – Aorist Active Imperative, 2nd Person Plural of ἐκκλίνω, “to turn away from,” “to avoid”
- ἀπ’ αὐτῶν – “from them” (those making divisions)
The aorist imperative implies a definite, decisive action. Once they are identified, do not engage — disengage. Paul’s command is not to argue with them but to separate from them.
Discipleship in Grammar
Romans 16:17 uses:
- Present tense verbs (σκοπεῖν, ποιοῦντας) for continuous danger
- Aorist forms (ἐμάθετε, ἐκκλίνατε) for decisive actions and memory
- Purposefully placed participles to identify the agents of danger
Paul’s grammar models spiritual discernment — not passive listening but active observation and decisive separation.
Watch, Identify, Avoid
This short verse becomes a spiritual discipline:
Watch those who divide. Remember what you were taught. Turn from the ones who stray.
The grammar tells us that vigilance is not paranoia — it is faithfulness to the teaching that was once received.
And that is how grammar guards the gospel.
