by Walter A. Boyd (South Africa)
Paper 26
(E) The Concluding Benediction (Romans 16.25-27)
As we conclude our considerations in this wonderful epistle, we are lifted to some of the highest truths the apostle gives expression to in any of his writings. Scholars have debated whether v25-27 should be placed at the end of chapter 16, or earlier, at the end of chapter 14. If they considered the contents of this benediction, they would have less doubt that where it is placed in our Authorised Version is correct. The Apostle began his epistle by presenting five great truths as pillars upon which he would build his arguments throughout the sixteen chapters. He proceeds to explain those fundamental truths throughout the chapters of the book; and now in chapter sixteen, by way of a conclusion to the epistle, he presents them again in the benediction. This structured argument demonstrates that the epistle is a complete unit of thought, skilfully pieced together from start to finish by the greatest human mind that ever wrote about the gospel. These truths form the commencement, content, and conclusion of his epistle. If these are set out in tabular form it will help to make the structure clearer.
The gospel of … (1.1; 1.9; 1.16) — GOSPEL — my gospel (16.25)
Jesus Christ our Lord (1.3) — CHRIST — the preaching of Jesus Christ (16.25)
His prophets in — SCRIPTURES — Scriptures of the the holy Scriptures (1.2) prophets (16.26)
Obedience to the faith — FAITH — to all nations for the among all nations (1.5) obedience of faith (16.26)
Power of God unto salvation (1.16) — POWER — Him that is of power (16.25)
Here are the five key words that sum up the epistle. The gospel is about Christ; it has been attested by the Scriptures; if received by faith, it has Divine power to change lives. We don’t have the space here, but it would be a very profitable study to trace these five great themes throughout the epistle, and see how they help to co-ordinate the letter as a whole.
The concluding benediction comprises three parts — The Gospel and its Marvel, Manifestation, and Majesty.
1. The Marvel of the Gospel, v25. In chapter 1.16 Paul is teaching that the gospel has Divine power to save the sinner. Here, in chapter 16, the emphasis is that the gospel has power to to stablish the saint. Paul’s concern for the welfare of his converts is demonstrated by his use of this word 'stablish'. He uses it here and in 1 & 2 Thessalonians. This concern sprang from his understanding of the Lord’s commission to His disciples, that they should make disciples and teach them to observe all things (Mt. 28.19, 20). The message of the gospel is described variously by Paul as my gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the mystery. My gospel is a reference to that specific message which was Divinely communicated to Paul, described in Gal.1.11, 12. The preaching of Jesus Christ describes the means he used to communicate the gospel to others as preaching, and the message that the gospel embraced, Jesus Christ. He preached it publicly as a herald of the good news. The message he had received and was imparting to others was the mystery. Until then it had been kept secret, but it was now his privilege to make it known throughout the Gentile world. The only way a human mind can be enlightened is by God speaking. If God holds His peace, we remain in darkness! But since eternal times the mystery had been kept secret. The message which Paul preached (my gospel), and the means he used to declare that message (the preaching of Jesus Christ), were according to, or, in keeping with, the revelation of the mystery. The revelation of the mystery implanted a burden within Paul’s heart as well as revealing to his mind the contents of what he should preach There was stewardship in his service. When the mystery was revealed to Paul, that revelation involved not only the message he should declare, but how he was to go about it - by preaching. A grasp of this would elevate in our minds the service of the public preaching of the gospel. It is not old fashioned to stand up before an audience and preach - indeed, it is how God intended the message should be propagated.
2. The Manifestation of the Gospel , v26. In these verses, Paul uses four words to describe how the gospel was unfolded: revelation and preaching, v25; made manifest, and made known, v26. Revelation has the idea of God disclosing what had previously been hidden. The word for preaching indicates how Paul passed on to others what had been revealed to him by the public preaching of the gospel. Made manifest and made known tell us that Paul’s preaching was with a view to making known the truth of the gospel that had previously been hidden; and that it was made known with a view to helping the hearers to understand. The gospel preacher is not to entertain an audience; his objective is to bring people to an understanding of the message. The sphere of the gospel is to all nations. This word ‘to’ entails more than at first reading: it has the meaning of ‘so as to reach’ all nations. Paul’s preaching, as he tells us in ch.9.24, was to be carried out in such a way that the gospel would reach all nations. It was, therefore, in keeping with God’s purpose that all men should hear the gospel. The objective of the gospel was the obedience of faith. Paul uses this word ‘obedience’ more times in the Epistle to the Romans than in any of his other writings. To him, it was a central ingredient in the message that he preached. Obedience is involved in: The Purpose of the Gospel, v1.5, The Power of the Gospel, v6.16, The Praise of the Gospel, v15.18, The Proof of the Gospel, v16.19. The Scriptures of the prophets in ch.16.26 must be a reference to the N.T. prophets and their Scriptures; whereas in ch.1.2 it refers to the O.T. prophets and their writings. In ch.1 he says, "which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures." Here in ch.16.26, Paul changes the time period by saying, but now is made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets … made known to all nations..." Since the Scriptures of the prophets are the means now used to make known to all nations what was previously hidden, it cannot refer to the O.T prophets and Scriptures, otherwise the gospel Paul preached was not a hidden mystery in O.T. days or writings. It is important to see the harmony in these references to the Scriptures. In ch.1, the gospel was promised in the O.T. Scriptures, but in ch.16, that which was promised in the O.T. is now preached in the N.T.
3. The Majesty of the Gospel, v27. As Paul considers the greatness of the message that he preached — how he received it, and what it entails for the sinner — he breaks out in a note of praise to the only wise God. Literally, he says, ‘to the God that is absolutely wise’. In everything that He has thought, declared, and done, God has been absolutely wise. Mankind thought themselves to be wise, ch.1.14, 22; but through the gospel which saves them in their abject need God has demonstrated His wisdom. The absolutely wise God has planned and provided salvation for foolish men. To that wise God, Paul ascribes glory through Jesus Christ for ever. The channel, through which the glory of God was made known in the gospel, was Christ. The mediator, through whom glory is now ascribed to God, is Christ. He is the centre of this great gospel, and the One in whom all our hopes for glory are placed.
Glory is one of the great themes of this epistle.
Ch. 1 — men changed the glory of the uncorruptible God.
Ch. 3 — men have come short of the glory of God.
Ch. 4 — Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God.
Ch. 6 — Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father.
Ch. 8 — We are destined for glory as the children of God.
Ch. 9 — Israel were intended to be custodians of the glory of God.
Ch. 9 — Gentiles were prepared unto glory.
Ch. 9 — The gospel was preached so as to make known the riches of God’s glory.
Ch.15 — We are received by Christ to the glory of God the Father.
May we learn the grandeur and the glory of the gospel, and add our Amen to the ascription of praise to the absolutely wise God, whose plan and purpose is behind it all.
—Concluded