Romans 16:19-27

 

Rom 16:19 (KJV)
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

Paul commends the Romans that their obedience in the Gospel has become a good testimony outside their territory. Probably when these testimonies spread like that, it made it easy for the Roman authorities to find them when the persecutions began. Paul is counseling the Roman Christians that they are to be wise concerning the good and simple concerning evil. Paul was desiring them to stay strong in the Faith but to remain innocent (simple) concerning evil or sin.

Rom 16:20 (KJV)
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Paul gives them encouragement that soon Satan will meet his doom for all false doctrines and troublemakers in the church are ruled by Satan. The word “bruise” carries with it the meaning of “shatter, break, or beat.” Satan will never have absolute dominion over the people of God. He may harass them but he can never rule them. Then Paul bids them the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ which is sufficient to keep these Christians strong. (2 Cor 12:9 KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. When Paul was being harassed by the Judaizers, he asked the Lord to remove them but the Lord said that His grace was sufficient for the tasks at hand and the persecution to come.

Rom 16:21 (KJV)
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

Paul had sent greetings to those in Rome but now those who were with Paul also send them greetings. Timothy was Paul’s son in the Faith.

Lucius - (Acts 13:1 KJV) Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Jason - (Acts 17:5 KJV) But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

Rom 16:22 (KJV)
I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

Paul used Tertius as his amanuensis and he also sends greetings to the Roman Church.

Rom 16:23 (KJV)
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

Gaius was hosting Paul in his home and he was one of the first converts in the church at Corinth. (1 Cor 1:14 KJV) I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Erastus was the treasurer of the city which means that God was not only saving slaves but He was saving some in high office. The name “Quartus” means four and possibly he was a slave as many slaves in Rome only had numbers instead of official names.

Rom 16:24 (KJV)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

This verse is omitted in the modern versions for reasons unknown. This is what makes them unreliable and wrong. In this closing, Paul desires the same grace which has saved and kept him over the years on the Roman Christians which is able to save and keep them.

Rom 16:25 (KJV)
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

This is one of the nicest benedictions in the Bible. First, Paul tells them that God has the power and can establish them according to the Gospel. The word “stablish” carries with it the meaning of “set firmly, fix, or confirm.” Then Paul tells them about the proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ which was a revelation of the mystery which was kept hidden from the foundation of the world. We know that much about the Lord Jesus Christ was written in the Old Testament but it was written in shadows and types. Israel would never have dreamed that the Temple was a foreshadow of the Lord Jesus Christ who would also fulfill the entire law of God. The word “secret” carries with it the meaning of “conceal, be silent and say nothing.” The Gospel is the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and is no more a mystery.

Rom 16:26 (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:

With the completion of the Scriptures, the mystery of Christ and the Gospel has been made manifest to the whole world. The word “manifest” carries with it the meaning of “reveal or disclose.” Now we can see clearly what or better yet, who the prophets of Israel were speaking about, when they themselves did not know some of what they were prophesying. The disclosure of the true Gospel of Christ, has, by commandment from God, been made known to all nations of the world and those who are the Elect will be obedient to that gospel and will become saved through it. The Gospel will go out throughout the entire world until the last one becomes saved.

Rom 16:27 (KJV)
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Paul concludes the doxology with praise to God that He is a wise God. The word “wise” carries with it the meaning of “clever or skillful.” God was the one who planned and executed Grace through the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. God will gain the glory through the Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen!

(Jude 1:24-25 KJV) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, {25} To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.