<p>16:18 <i>For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ- </i>Those who make divisions don't serve &quot;our Lord Christ&quot; (Rom. 16:17,18 RV); if they saw Christ's Lordship, they wouldn't be divisive, but be humbled into loving co-operation with His brethren. And yet those who make divisions in churches nearly all claim to be reluctantly doing so as part of their devotion to the Lord Christ. It was the same in the first century, and Paul clearly states that this is just so much flannel and excuse.</p><p><i>But their own belly- </i>It could be that there was some financial issue which further nuanced the question of obedience to the Law. Perhaps some were appealing to the Jewish law in order to demand tithes from other members.</p><p><i>And by their smooth and fair speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent</i>- The language of the serpent in Eden. See on :20.</p>