Lamp Posts

“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14).

Paul writes these words neither as a rebuke nor out of flattery. Rather, he has confidence in the brethren at Rome. He believes they are fully capable of instructing, or admonishing, one another.  

“Instruct” translates a Greek verb used eight times in the New Testament. It is often rendered “admonish.” The meaning is to put in mind, to set right, or to lay on the heart. It is instruction intended to help bring about better understanding of a situation, but the understanding involved is not simply knowledge or intellectual understanding. Admonition is intended to have an effect on a person’s will, spiritual disposition, or moral consciousness. Such counsel is sometimes aimed at having a corrective or preventative effect by warning of the consequences of certain choices.

Some of the most significant relationships in life result from the experience of confronting a friend, colleague, or loved one about a weakness in their life, how they are not living up to their full potential, or how they are hurting others around them. Such confrontations are never easy. There is the risk of hurt feelings, rejection or broken relationships. Yet there is no greater sign of love than the willingness to admonish one another.

Jesus warned about unrighteous, hypocritical judging. So I have to think about this when I am about to admonish a brother or friend about some problem in his life. It’s important always to judge with righteous judgment.

Paul’s confidence in the brethren’s ability and competence to admonish was based on two important qualities.

First, they were “full of goodness.” It’s important to have pure motives. They would be frank in their dealings with one another and fair in their treatment of one another. It’s important always to approach admonishment from a spirit of familial love and deep concern—“as a brother” (2 Thess. 3:15). Paul’s admonitions were often given “with tears” (Acts 20:31) and “as a father would his own children” (1 Thess. 2:11). Remember to approach admonition with a spirit of gentleness and humility. It’s a good idea to follow the advice Publilius Syrus: “admonish your friends privately but praise them openly.”

Second, they were “filled with all knowledge.” It’s important to be well-informed. They had a firm grasp of the truth of the gospel. They could judge righteous judgment because it was based on a correct understanding of truth, not on opinion. Paul often reminded Christians of the past deeds of God’s people, both good and bad, observing that “these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction” (1 Cor. 10:11). We can learn much from our past mistakes, as well as those of others.

We can observe the same qualities in Paul’s own teaching. He wrote to the Colossians that his proclamation of Christ included “warning [admonishing] everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28). His teaching was based on wisdom, and was motivated by a genuine concern for the growth of those he taught.

May God grant us knowledge, wisdom, humility, and concern for others, so that our efforts to provide support and guidance for them will result in their well-being.

Dan Petty