Romans 16.25-27-Paul's Concluding Doxology
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday August 29, 2010
Romans: Romans 16:25-27-Paul’s Concluding Doxology
Lesson # 553
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 16:25.
Romans 16:25-27 is a doxology, which is from the Greek doxologia and is derived from the Greek noun doxa, “praise, glory, honor” denotes a brief ascription of praise to members of the Trinity.
The doxology in Romans 16:25-27 echoes the language and themes that appear throughout this magnificent letter, especially the introduction of the epistle.
In Romans 1:4, 16, God’s power is mentioned as it is in Romans 16:25 with the verb dunamai, “is able.” Paul uses the verb sterizo, “to establish” in Romans 1:11 as he does in Romans 16:25.
The noun euangelion, “gospel” appears in Romans 1:1, 9, 16; 2:16 as it does in Romans 16:25.
Paul speaks of ‘revelation/manifested” in Romans 1:17; 3:21 as he does in Romans 16:25.
He speaks of the prophetic Old Testament Scriptures in Romans 1:2; 3:21 as he does in Romans 16:26.
The expression εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως, “obedience of faith” appears in Romans 1:5 as it does in Romans 16:26.
“The nations” are mentioned in Romans 1:5 as they are in Romans 16:26.
Finally, the wisdom of God is mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:27 as he does in Romans 11:33-36.
The theme of the revelation of the gospel and how it applies to all of humanity is prominent in the doxology in Romans 16:25-27.
In this doxology, Paul is seeking to stimulate the Roman believers to praise God for His plan of salvation that includes both Jew and Gentiles.
Romans 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.”
“To Him who is able” is used of God the Father referring to His omnipotence, speaking of His “ability” or “capacity” to strengthen the Roman believers spiritually, which Paul says is “according to my gospel.”
Thus, Paul is reminding the Romans that they are strengthened spiritually through the communication of the gospel, which Paul presents in detail in the main argument of the Roman epistle (Romans 1:16).
“To establish” is the verb sterizo (στηρίζω) (stear-ee-zo), which means “to strengthen” indicating that the Father will cause the Roman believers to become stronger in their faith and stabilized in their relationship with God according to Paul’s gospel, which he communicated in the main argument of the Roman epistle.
Consequently, this would produce greater obedience and consequently, greater spiritual growth among the Roman believers.
“According to my gospel” indicates that the Father is able to strengthen the Romans spiritually “in accordance with” the teaching of Paul’s gospel.
“And the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past” further explains the previous prepositional phrase “according to my gospel.”
“The preaching of Jesus Christ” refers to Paul publicly proclaiming the gospel as a herald in a dignified and authoritative manner, which commanded the respect and attention of” the audience.
“According to the revelation of the mystery” refers to what God the Holy Spirit disclosed to Paul with reference to the gospel that centers upon Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection, which accomplishes the Father’s plan of salvation for both Jew and Gentile.
The prophets of Old Testament Israel testify to the gospel and is now fully by the Spirit through the apostles and New Testament prophets and is now recorded in the Greek New Testament.
This prepositional phrase indicates that Paul publicly proclaimed the gospel as a herald based upon or on the basis of receiving revelation from the Holy Spirit concerning the mystery, which has been kept secret from eternity past.
“Mystery” refers to the plan of salvation for both Jew and Gentiles and is now fully revealed during the church age by the Spirit through the apostles to the church, which was not fully known to the Old Testament prophets of Israel.
The content of this mystery is Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection for both Jew and Gentile.
The “hidden” nature of the gospel is not that it was totally unknown since the Old Testament prophets, all the way back to Abraham, were told that salvation would be provided for both Jew and Gentile through the Jewish Messiah.
What Paul means by musterion in Romans 16:25 is that through the Spirit, God the Father has “fully” disclosed the gospel in the person of Jesus Christ and in the proclamation of the gospel by the apostles.
“Which has been kept secret” speaks of the act of God in previous dispensations not fully revealing all the details concerning the gospel.
“For long ages past” speaks of past history stretching to eternity.
Romans 16:26, “But now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”
“But now is manifested” refers to two dispensations, namely, the First Advent of Christ and the church age dispensation, which has revealed the mystery.
“By the Scriptures of the prophets” indicates that the mystery was manifested by the Spirit “through” the Old Testament Scriptures (compare Romans 1:2).
“According to the commandment of the eternal God” indicates that the mystery has been manifested during the First Advent of Christ and the church age in accordance with the decree of the eternal Father.
“Has been made known” means that the mystery has been made known publicly through the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching of His apostles.
“To all the nations” indicates that the mystery being made known during the church age is on behalf of or for the benefit of the Gentiles.
“Leading to obedience of faith” is used with reference to the Gentiles obeying the gospel message and trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior as well as referring to Gentile obedience to the gospel after their conversion.
It indicates that God the purpose of God the Father making fully known publicly the mystery for the benefit of all the Gentiles through the prophetic Scriptures according to His decree in eternity was to effect their obedience, which is produced by faith.
It speaks of faith in Jesus Christ resulting in being declared justified by the Father and faith in the Word of God after conversion, which results in spiritual growth and maturity.
Romans 16:27, “To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”
“To the only wise God” indicates that the Father, who is wise, will be the recipient of adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving from regenerate Jew and Gentiles throughout all eternity.
“Through Jesus Christ” indicates that both Jew and Gentile believers glorify God the Father in prayer in the sense of giving Him adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving “through” their union and identification with Jesus Christ.
It indicates that the believer can only approach the Father worship “through the personal intermediate agency” of Jesus Christ.
“The glory” refers to the adoring praise, honor, recognition and worshipful thanksgiving that will be directed towards the Father by both elect angels and regenerate human beings.
“Forever” expresses the concept of eternity.
“Amen” emphasizes the certainty that God the Father will throughout eternity future receive from regenerate men and elect angels adoring praise and worshipful thanksgiving through their union and identification with Jesus.
William Mounce writes, “In coming ages the songs of the redeemed will ring throughout the court of heaven. Redemption will be complete. The eternal purposes of God will reach their fulfillment. God will be forever praised. Amen.” (Mounce, Robert, The New American Commentary, volume 27, pages 283; Romans, Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1995)
