Romans

16:25-27

Personal Matters and Doxology, 15:14-16:27

v] Doxology

This doxology is often regarded as a later addition and not from Paul's hand, cf., Cranfield. The argument is that it was composed to round off what seems like an incomplete letter. The arguments are inconclusive and so we are best to treat this passage as a concluding doxology which ends the epistle with the same sentiments with which it was commenced.

tw/ dunamenw/ (dunamai) pres. pas. part. "to him who is able" - to the one being able. Participle as a substantive. Having the power to make something possible, cf. Eph.3:20, Jd.24. "To him whose power can establish you firmly", Bruce.

sthrixai (sthrissw) inf. "to establish" - to make firm, make stable, set up, fix firmly. The infinitive is complementary, completing the sense of the verbal aspect of the substantive participle, "is able." The gospel can strengthen the believer, cf. 1:11. "To him who can strengthen you by my gospel", Moffatt.

kata to euaggelion "by [my] gospel" - according to the message. "According to" is better than "by means of" or "through". "My" means the gospel which Paul preaches and which he received from Christ. The phrase is better translated "who is able to confirm you in accord with my gospel", Cranfield.

khrugma (a) "proclamation" - The apostolic preaching of the cross and resurrection of Christ. The phrase serves to explain Paul's gospel.

Ihsou Cristou gen. "of Jesus Christ" - A subjective genitive, "preaching done by Christ", ie. Christ "is the author .... in his earthly manifestation", Gerhard Friedrich, TDNT 1964/2, should not be discounted although most commentators argue for an objective genitive, "the preaching about Jesus Christ", Morris, Moo, etc.

apokaluyin (iV ewV) "revelation" - unveiling. "The full unveiling of the mystery", Bruce.

sisighmenou (sigaw) perf. pas. part. "hidden" - having been kept secret, silent, hidden. The participle probably functions here as an adjective, modifying "gospel / mystery". The gospel unveils the mystery, once hidden, but now revealed. "That purpose which for long ages was veiled in silence", Barclay.

de "but" - Adversative, contrasting the unveiled now with the veiled past.

nun "now" - The "now" should by underline, "now, however", TEV.

fanerwqentoV (fanerow) aor. pas. "revealed" - made manifest. It should not be read that the mystery is revealed through the prophets and law (obviously the Old Testament), but that it is revealed through the proclamation of the gospel which is confirmed by the law and the prophets.

epitaghn (h) "the command" - a command, order, instruction, decree..

tou aiwniou geou "of the eternal God" - The sense of "eternal" is probably "ever-living", "the One who never dies", but also carrying the sense of "unchanging", "the never-changing One."

eiV "so that" - into, to, for. Although not a common sense, the preposition here probably expresses purpose, "in order that", as NIV.

uJpakohn (h) pistewV (iV ewV) - "[that the nations might] believe and obey" - The obedience of faith, cf 1:15. The mystery is revealed in the gospel so that the nations may come to the "obedience of faith", ie. that right-standing before God which is by faith from first to last.

monw/ sofw/ qew/ "to the only wise God" - to God alone wise. The NIV, etc. holds that a common confusion between the adj. "alone" and the adv. "only" has taken place, cf. BDF. Yet, there is much to support a translation which takes both "alone" and "wise" as qualifying adjectives, "God is the only God, and he is a wise God." "To the only God, who alone is all wise", TEV. Sadly, the CEV has slipped back into line with the NIV, NRSV, REB, NAB, .....

wJ/ "to ... [God]" - to whom [the glory into the ages]. The Greek implies that the ascription of glory is to Christ rather than God, but it is most likely that God is the intended object, as rendered in the NIV. "To God be glory for ever. Amen", TNT.

Romans Introduction

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