Romans 16:19 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul rejoices that the Romans' obedience is widely known, and prays they may be wise in what is good and innocent of evil.
What Does Romans 16:19 Mean?
Paul softens his warning with praise. The Romans' obedience to the gospel was known everywhere, and this gladdened him. Yet he adds a prayer: that they be 'wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil,' shrewd in the things of God and innocent, untouched, in the ways of wrong.
This is a beautiful balance. The believer is not called to be naive about good or experienced in evil, but the reverse: deeply versed in what is right and unstained by what is wrong. It echoes the Lord's own counsel to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. True maturity grows ever more discerning of the good while keeping the heart clean and uncorrupted by sin.
Romans 16:19 in the Original Language
akeraios (ἀκέραιος), 'simple' -- unmixed and innocent, pure and free from the taint of evil.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 16:19
What does Romans 16:19 mean?
Paul rejoices that the Romans' obedience is widely known, and prays they may be wise in what is good and innocent of evil.