Romans 16:24 - Printer Friendly

Many translations exclude this verse altogether, skipping from verse 23 to verse 25. It simply repeats Paul's blessing in the second half of verse 20, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Bible scholars are continually seeking to build the most accurate representation of the very first manuscripts of the Scriptural books. Conservative Christians understand these letters to have been inspired by God in their original form (2 Timothy 3:16). Those manuscripts were carefully preserved by scribes copying them down, word for word, over the centuries.

Occasionally, archeologists uncover earlier versions of those copied manuscripts, written more closely to the very first writing of the Word. Two things have come from this. One, it is incredibly clear how extremely faithful the Bible we have today is to the very first manuscripts. Differences that have been found are minor and do not change our understanding of any of the essential truths of God's Word. Two, when the earliest manuscripts consistently show something different than later versions, Bible scholars adjust their translations to reflect that.

In the case of Romans 16:24, most earlier manuscripts, discovered some time after chapter and verse numbers were applied to Romans, simply do not contain it. Therefore, it is generally removed from the final translation.

Romans 16:17–23 includes last-minute instruction from Paul and greetings to those in Rome from the men with him in Corinth. Before closing the letter, Paul urgently warns his readers to be on the watch for false teachers; to avoid them. These people do not serve Christ and will deceive the naive with their distorted version of Christian truth, thus dividing the church. Paul sends greetings from Timothy, his longtime partner and student in ministry. Paul also sends greetings from his host in Corinth and several other friends and co-workers.

The final chapter of Romans contains four sections intended to wrap up the letter. Paul commends the woman who will deliver the letter and then sends greetings to many people he knows in Rome. After last-minute, urgent instruction about false teachers, Paul sends greetings to the Roman Christians from those who are with him in Corinth, including Timothy. Paul closes out the letter with a hymn of praise to the God who has revealed to all the nations of the earth the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

Prior verses detailed Paul's plans to visit Rome and asked for prayer. This text concludes his letter to the Christians in Rome with four quick sections. He sends his greetings to a list of people he knows, or at least knows of, in Rome. Paul offers last-minute instruction about false teachers. He sends greetings from those who are with him in Corinth. And he closes out the letter with a beautiful praise hymn to the God who has revealed the mystery of the gospel of Jesus to all nations so that all might obey faith in Jesus.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.