Romans 16:19-20 : For your obedience is came abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. The church at Rome was old enough and active enough for the report of its obedience to become widely circulated. This was a source of joy to Paul. He would have them to sustain that reputation by continued obedience. If they allowed false teachers to cause divisions and scandals, they would have a bad influence over churches that had cause to regard them so highly. He would have them to be wise to that which was good, so as to be able to distinguish between the good and the evil. People do not have to indulge in evil things in order to know what is evil--be "simple unto that which is evil." People who are wise unto the good know evil. Only the person who knows what is good has a clear idea of what is evil. The writer of Hebrews speaks of "those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). Living in sin and ignorance so blinds a person that he can not see what is good or evil. "Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bit-ter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own sight" (Isaiah 5:20-21). Paul gives them the comforting assurance that, if they would turn away from evil and be wise unto that which was good, they would soon triumph over that which was evil--bruise Satan under their feet. "Shortly"--that could not refer to things yet future they were to accomplish this while they lived.