Guided by Grace: Praise Forever
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
16:25–27. The apostle finally came to his closing benediction. This letter to the Romans is Paul’s longest and most complete statement of the message he proclaimed, what he here called my gospel (cf. 2:16; 2 Tim. 2:8) and the proclamation of (i.e., concerning) Jesus Christ. The truth of this message is the means of spiritual life and stability, as Paul expressed his praise to God who is able to establish you (cf. 1 Peter 5:10).
Paul said that aspects of this message (e.g., Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:51; Eph. 5:32) and in a sense the total message (cf. Eph. 3:3–9; Col. 1:26–27) are the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known. The message of the gospel of Christ was “hidden” in the Old Testament, but is revealed in the New. In the prophetic writings (of the OT; cf. Rom. 1:2), given by the command of the eternal God (1 Tim. 1:17), Christ was referred to (Luke 24:44–45), but even the prophets themselves were not fully aware of all they wrote (1 Peter 1:10–12). But now in the Church Age their writings are understood.
The goal of this “revelation of the mystery” (Rom. 16:25) is that people of all nations might believe and obey Christ (cf. 1:5; 15:18; 1 Peter 1:2). Paul’s concern for the geographical spread of the gospel is evident here (cf. Matt. 28:19), appropriate in view of his writing to the believers at the empire’s capital city.
Paul then identified specifically the object of his benediction: To the only wise God. In the Greek this phrase is followed immediately by the words through Jesus Christ. This indicates that the wisdom of God is displayed supremely through Christ (cf. Col. 2:3). According to the Greek text the benediction then ends, to whom be glory forever! Amen (cf. Rom. 11:36). God the Father ultimately is the One to be praised and to whom glory belongs (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24–28).