Romans 16:25-27

The Closing Doxology. As to the place of this passage, see Introd. § 4. At first sight, it looks like a paragraph strayed from Ephesians, Colossians, or the Pastorals (see the Revised parallel references); close examination shows it relevant enough to this epistle.

Romans 16:25 f. Paul renders praise to him that is able (cf. Ephesians 3:20) to establish you his own earnest longing (Romans 1:11; cf. Romans 14:4)according to my gospel (as in Romans 2:16; cf. 2 Timothy 2:8) and the proclamation of Jesus Christ (in the style of 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Corinthians 15:14). For obedience of faith made known unto all the nations carries us back to Romans 1:5; Romans 1:13, while the expression through prophetic scriptures almost repeats that of Romans 1:2, having no other parallel in Paul; the epistle teems with references to the OT prophets.The mystery held in silence in times eternal (2 Timothy 1:9 f., Titus 1:2 f.), but now made manifest, is God's purpose to impart to the Gentiles the Messianic salvation (cf. Romans 1:5; Romans 1:16, Romans 10:12; Romans 15:7) the secret of the Cross (see 1 Corinthians 2:6); Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 3:4, unfolds the further, consequent mystery of their incorporation in the universal Church (p. 812). The parallel expressions, according to my gospel and the preaching, etc., and according to the revelation, etc., point to the human and Divine activities co-operating to establish Roman believers: we preach Christ God reveals the mystery of His eternal grace (cf. Matthew 16:17; Ephesians 1:17 ff.). Manifested now (the Greek order) and through prophetic scriptures (remove the comma of EV); the mystery revealed in the Gospel was foreshadowed by the old Economy (cf. Romans 3:21). The mandate of the eternal God (cf. 1 Timothy 1:1; Titus 1:3) directed alike the present unveiling and the earlier hidden preparations for the bringing about of faith-obedience; for this end God's great secret has been made known unto all the nations.

Romans 16:27. To whom is probably an early textual blunder, due to Galatians 1:5 and 2 Timothy 4:18, or introduced through liturgical usage. With the deletion (mg.) of the relative pronoun (a single Greek letter), which throws grammatical confusion into this noble passage, the Doxology concludes by resuming and completing its overture: To the only, the wise God (cf. 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:15 f.) through Jesus Christ be glory for ever! Only and wise are distinct attributes: He is the one God (Romans 3:29 f.), whose sovereign counsel wisely disposes the successive epochs of revelation and dispenses its manifold gifts; see Romans 11:33.

The epistle ends in the sublime and stately fashion of its beginning.