Romans 16:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

NIV: to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

NASB: to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

CSB: to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ--to him be the glory forever! Amen.

NLT: All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.

KJV: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

NKJV: to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Paul brings his doxology, a hymn of praise to God, to a close by finally praising God after a string of statements describing the glorious work God has done in revealing the good news of salvation through faith in Christ.

Paul began this long last sentence of his long letter with the words "to him who" and now completes the thought with "to the only wise God." God is shown to be wise for this beautiful means by which He has made it possible for all people to share in His glory through faith in Jesus forever.

To this God, then, Paul writes, be glory forever. By God's design, He will be glorified—lifted up, praised, shown to be worthy—forever through Jesus Christ. Paul ends the letter with a final "amen," meaning "so be it."

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.

Accessed 5/6/2024 12:24:00 AM