Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 16:25

"Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal," — Romans 16:25 (ASV)

Now to him. This and the two following verses are found in many manuscripts at the close of the fourteenth chapter. Its proper place, however, is here; and the apostle thus concludes the whole epistle with an ascription of praise.

To him, and so on. This refers to God, to whom be glory (Romans 16:20).

Is of power. In Greek, this means "is able"; who has power (Ephesians 3:20; Jude 1:24, Now unto him that is able to keep you from failing, and so on). God alone can keep Christians in the path of salvation, and it was fitting to bring that truth prominently into view at the close of the epistle.

To stablish you. To strengthen and confirm you.

According to my Gospel. This refers to the gospel which I preach, specifically the doctrines I have been defending in this epistle. It is called his gospel, not because he was the author of it, or because others did not preach it also, but because he had been particularly defending it in this epistle. The doctrines which he had advanced were just those which were fitted to strengthen and confirm them—the doctrine of justification, of election, of perseverance, and of the protection and favour of God to both Jews and Gentiles. These were the doctrines which he had defended, and it might easily be shown that these are the doctrines that give stability to the Christian faith, hope, and love.

And the preaching of Jesus Christ. This refers not to his personal preaching, but to that preaching of which Christ is the author and the subject. It refers particularly, as the following clause shows, to the doctrines by which the partition between the Jews and the Gentiles was broken down, and by which they were admitted to the same privileges and hopes.

According to the revelation. This means according to the communication of that which has been so long concealed, but which is now made manifest. The word revelation refers to the publication of the plan by the gospel.

Of the mystery. The word mystery means, properly, that which is hidden or concealed, and is thus applied to any doctrine which was not before known. It does not necessarily mean that which is unintelligible, but that which had not been before revealed (see the commentary on Matthew 13:11).

The word here seems to refer to the principal doctrines of the gospel; its main truths, which had been concealed, especially from the entire Gentile world, but which were now made known.

Which was kept secret. This means it was kept in silence (Greek, sesighmenou) and was not divulged or proclaimed.

Since the world began. This means in all past times. This refers particularly to the Gentiles. The Jews had some obscure intimations of these truths, but they were now made known to all the world.

The phrase "since the world began" is, in Greek, "in eternal times"; that is, in all past times, or, as we would say, they have been always concealed.