Innocent (185) (akeraios from "a" = without + keránnumi = mix) refers literally to that which is without mixture and thus is pure. The basic meaning is being unmixed or unadulterated.
Figuratively it refers to that which is without admixture of evil, which is free from guile and is translated as innocent, harmless or simple.
Like a "little child". ("...in evil be babes, but in your thinking be mature." 1Cor 14:20).
The believer’s life is to be absolutely pure, unmixed with sin and evil. The KJV translates akeraios as harmless (twice) and simple.
Other than this verse and (Mt 10:16 quoted above), akeraios is used only one other time in the NT, Paul exhorting the saints at Philippi to...
Do (present imperative = as your habitual practice, your lifestyle) all things without grumbling or disputing so that (they might) prove (themselves) to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, (see notes Philippians 2:14; Philippians 2:15)
Comment: Note the only way we can fulfill this command is by reliance on the truth in the previous verse - the power of the Holy Spirit to give us the "desire" and the "power" to do supernaturally that which does not come naturally! (See Php 2:13-note)
Vincent (commenting on use of akeraios in Mt 10:16) writes that akeraios meant...
unmixed, unadulterated. Used of wine without water, and of metal without alloy. Hence guileless. So Luther, without falsity. Compare Ro 16:19; Php 2:15. They were to imitate the serpent’s wariness, but not his wiliness. “The presence of the wolves demands that ye be wary; the fact that ye are my apostles (compare “I send you”) demands that ye be guileless” (Dr. Morison on Matthew). (Romans 16 - Vincent's Word Studies - Online)
Vine adds that akeraios
was used of wine unmingled with water, of unalloyed metal, etc. Hence it means “without admixture of evil.” Here, then, it would mean that his desire for them was that they might be untainted by the influences of evil teachers and the divisions and stumbling blocks caused thereby. Thus would they be wise in adherence to the truth. If we are to be kept from admixture of what is baneful we must be steadfast in the faith, abiding in the truth. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
Barclay has a similar description writing that akeraios was
used of metal which has no suspicion of alloy, of wine and of milk which are not adulterated with water. It describes something which is absolutely pure of any corruption. The Christian is a man whose utter sincerity must be beyond all doubt....When used of people, it implies motives which are unmixed. Christian purity must issue in a complete sincerity of thought and character." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible - Romans Online)
Denney - The fundamental idea of (akeraios) is that of freedom from alien or disturbing elements. What Paul here wishes for the Romans—moral intelligence, not impaired in the least by any dealings with evil—does suggest that antinomianism (lawlessness, antagonism against law) was the peril to be guarded against. Integrity of the moral nature is the best security: the seductive teaching is instinctively repelled. (The Expositor's Greek Testament - online)
The idea in this verse is to keep your doctrine (the teaching you believe to be true) unmixed with false teachings; do not let yourself get “all mixed up” in your thinking (Ephesians 4:14-Ephesians 4:14). Also, keep your moral life unmixed with sin and even the appearance of sin; stay as far away from evil as possible. Be so sensitive to it that the moment you suspect something is evil, flee from it at once. Phillips’s translation sums this thought up well: “I want to see you experts in good, and not even beginners in evil.” for as Paul writes in (Ephesians 5:12-note) "it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret."
MacArthur warns: "Many Christians rationalize watching degrading movies and TV programs by claiming they need to be familiar with the ways of the world in order to better analyze secular culture and be better prepared to witness to those who are worldly. But it is not necessary to sift through garbage to recognize it for what it is, and the more we are around it the more we pick up its stench. The more willingly we associate with evil, the more it will drag us down to its level. To be innocent in what is evil is not to be ignorant of it or to disregard it. We cannot abhor evil unless we have some idea of what it is. But, to use a popular analogy, the only reliable way to recognize a counterfeit bill is to be completely familiar with the genuine bill. The only reliable way to recognize evil is to be thoroughly familiar with the good, and the only reliable way to learn what is good is to learn God’s Word."
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (NASB: Lockman) (Note: "And" begins this verse in the 1977 version of the NAS)
Greek: o de theos tes eirenes suntripsei (3SFAI) ton Satanan hupo tous podas humon en tachei. e charis tou kuriou emon Iesou meth' humon.
Amplified: And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) be with you. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: 1 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
NLT: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: It will not be long before the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: And the God of the peace will trample Satan under your feet soon. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: and the God of the peace shall bruise the Adversary under your feet quickly; the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen!
AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL SOON CRUSH SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET: o de theos tes eirenes suntripsei (3SFAI) ton satanan hupo tous podas humon en tachei: (Ro 15:33, Ro 16:20, Phil 4:9, 1Th 5:23, Heb 13:20)
And - Continues the thought
It is very interesting that this is the first mention of Satan in Paul's greatest epistle. Satan does not get as much press as does our other mortal enemy, the power of Sin (See its defeat in notes on Romans 6:11-note)
Paul assures faithful believers that they can look forward to the day when their spiritual warfare (click link for excellent book on this topic) will be over. Teachers of deceit and falsehood are instruments of the devil, and they will be destroyed. But why does Paul mention Satan here? The immediate context is men "who cause dissensions". This suggests that Paul is associating their nefarious deceptive activity with the evil one & this would parallel a similar line of thought by Paul in (2Co 11:13, 14, 15).
God of peace - A great Name of God (see study Jehovah Shalom: LORD is Peace and Jehovah Shalom Notes)
God is the God of peace...
"for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." (1 Cor. 14:33)
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, (Hebrews 13:20-note)
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:33-note)
And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:20-note)
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thessalonians 5:23-note)
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The War is Over - The bitter conflict had finally ended between the North and the South. The soldiers of the US Civil War were free to return to their families. But a number of them remained hidden in the woods, living on berries. They either didn't hear or didn't believe that the war was over, so they continued enduring miserable conditions when they could have been back home.
It's something like that in the spiritual realm too. Christ made peace between God and man by dying in our place. He paid sin's penalty on the cross. Anyone who accepts His sacrifice will be forgiven by a holy God.
Sadly, many people refuse to believe the gospel and continue to live as spiritual fugitives. Sometimes even those who have placed their trust in Christ live on almost the same level. Either out of ignorance or unwillingness, they fail to claim the promises of God's Word. They do not experience the joy and assurance that should accompany salvation. They do not draw from their relationship with God the comfort and peace He intends for His children. They are the objects of His love, care, and provision but live as if they were orphans.
Have you been living apart from the comfort, love, and care of your heavenly Father? Come on home. The war is over!—Richard De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
We fail, O Lord, to realize
The fullness of what You have done,
So help us trust Your saving work
And claim the triumph You have won. —D. De Haan
Christ's victory over death means peace for His saints.
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The Peace Initiative - It was the night before Christmas in 1870. French and German armies faced each other on the field of battle in the Franco-Prussian War. A French soldier started walking toward the German lines. His comrades watched breathlessly, expecting to hear at any instant the crack of a rifle that would end his life. As he neared the enemy lines, he stopped and began singing, "Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the King of Israel!" No shot rang out.
Slowly the Frenchman returned to his ranks. There was silence! Then from the German side came a lone soldier to that same spot and sang the German version of the same song. After each stanza both armies united in the chorus. For a few minutes Christ brought peace to that battlefield.
God is a peacemaker who always takes the first step. Jesus came as a baby, and when He grew to manhood He preached peace to a warring world. Then, in the greatest peace initiative this world has ever seen, Christ made peace between God and man by dying for our sins (Col 1:20-note).
Peacemaking efforts may be rejected, but the alternative is continued hostility. God didn't settle for that, nor should we. Let's take the first step in healing a broken relationship, even at the risk of being "shot down." --D J De Haan (Ibid)
O Prince of Peace, keep us, we pray,
From strife and enmity;
Help us to speak with loving words
That quell hostility. --JDB
What this world needs is the peace that passes all misunderstanding
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F B Meyer writes - WE ALL need Peace! There are sources of Peace which are common to all men. The peace of a happy home; of an increasing business and enlarging influence; of the respect and love of our fellows. As a man is conscious of these, he is inclined to say with Job, "I shall die in my nest." We can all understand a peace like that; but there is a "peace that passeth understanding." It is too deep for words. It is like the pillowed depths of the ocean, which are undisturbed by the passing storm. Here is a sufferer, almost always in acute pain, and needing constant attention, and yet so happy. Joy and Peace, like guardian angels, sit by that bedside; and Hope, not blindfolded, touches all the strings of the lyre, and sheds sunshine,--how do you account for it? Let the sceptic and the scoffer answer! Here is a peace that passes understanding which comes from the God of Peace.
For the Christian soul there is a silver lining in every cloud; a blue patch in the darkest sky; a turn in the longest lane; a mountain view which shall compensate the steepest ascent. Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land. The thing impossible shall be; because all things are possible to God.
The peace of God is the peace of the Divine Nature---the very tranquillity which prevails in the heart of the God of Peace. It was of this that Jesus spoke when He said, "My peace I give unto you"; for His own being was filled and blessed with it during His earthly career. "The Lord of Peace Himself give you peace always."
There are three things against which we must ever be on our guard lest they rob us of our peace. First, unconfessed sin; second, worry; third, the permission of an unrebuked selfish principle. The Apostle says, "Let the Peace of God rule in your hearts." The Greek word means arbitrate. Let God's Peace act as umpire.
We shall not escape life's discipline. We may expect to abound here, and to be abased there. But amid all, God's Peace, like a white-winged sentinel angel, shall come down to garrison our heart with its affections, and our mind with its thoughts.
PRAYER - I humbly ask, O God, that Thy Peace may be the garrison of my heart and mind; that it may ever rule within me, asserting itself over the tumultuous
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Greek Word Studies ( - )
Read freely Greek Word Studies from the Austin Precept text commentary of the Bible in text and pdf format. Precept Austin is an online free dynamic bible commentary similar to wikipedia with updated content and many links to excellent biblical resources around the world. You can browse the entire collection of Commentaries by Verse on the Precept Austin website.We have been "bought with a price" to be "ambassadors for Christ" and our "salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" so let us "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" "so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Cor 6:20, 2Cor 5:20, Ro 13:11, 2Cor 7:1, 1Jn 2:28)