Romans 16:18, Serving Their Own Belly
The Apostle Paul urges the believers in Rome to be mindful of false teachers that will with their “smooth” talk and flattery deceive the unguarded and inexperienced ones. These false teachers serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own selfish interest. The term “their own belly”, Barnes observed, “Their own lusts; their own private interests; they do this to obtain support. The authors of parties and divisions, in church and state, have this usually in view.”