Romans 16:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith —

NIV: 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—

NASB: but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;

CSB: but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles—

NLT: But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him.

KJV: But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

NKJV: but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

Paul's one-sentence doxology continues. In the previous verse, he described the gospel, or good news about salvation by faith in Jesus, as a mystery kept secret by God for the long ages of human history.

Now, though, he writes that it has finally been disclosed or revealed by God. Along with this revelation from God about the gospel of Jesus, it became clear that the prophetic writings—what we would call the Old Testament—pointed to this truth about Jesus all along.

The truth of the gospel message has been made known to all the nations of the world. As Paul writes this, many people in the world remain to be reached with the gospel message. His meaning seems to be that all the barriers have been removed. The truth about salvation through faith in Jesus is available to be understood and believed by everyone everywhere.

Paul adds that "the eternal God" has commanded this revelation to happen. This seems to mean both that God is the one who commanded the mystery to be ended and the truth revealed at this moment in history, and that God is the one who has commanded Paul and others to take this message to all nations throughout the world.

Why has God commanded this revelation of the gospel, the good news about Jesus? He wants people to obey Him by believing in Jesus. Salvation is more than an opportunity to be saved from hell and spend eternity with God. Belief in Jesus, in the gospel as Paul has presented it in Romans, is God's command to all peoples.

Romans 16:25–27 is a one-sentence doxology or hymn of praise to God. Paul praises the One who has revealed the long-hidden mystery of the gospel, or good news, of salvation through faith in Jesus, making it available to all nations. Paul calls it ''his'' gospel, a personal touch and reference to Paul's own personal ministry and teachings. This is an idea Paul uses in other letters, such as Galatians. He concludes by declaring God's glory through Jesus Christ forevermore.

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.