Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 16:24

"[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]" — Romans 16:24 (ASV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.—This verse is missing in the oldest group of manuscripts and is found chiefly in Græco-Latin Codices and in Antiochene authorities of the fourth and fifth centuries, whose leaning is towards the later text.

If the theory stated in the introduction to chapter 15 is correct, the doxology that follows was added by the Apostle to complete the shorter edition of the Epistle, but soon came to be regarded as a fitting close to the whole.

Reference has been made to the resemblance it bears to the Pastoral Epistles and the Epistle to the Ephesians. This will be easily seen when the parallel expressions are placed side by side.

Romans 16:25–27.—To Him that is of power.

Ephesians 3:20.—Unto Him that is able (precisely the same words in the Greek).

According to my gospel.

2 Timothy 2:8.—According to my gospel (the same phrase is, however, found in Romans 2:16).

The preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 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.

Ephesians 3:3; Ephesians 3:5–6.—By revelation He made known unto us the mystery. . . . which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles should be, etc.

Ephesians 3:9–10.—The mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid. . . . to the intent that now. . . . might be known.

Titus 1:2–3.—Which God. . . . before the world began (peculiar and identical phrase); but hath in due times manifested His word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment (same word) of God our Saviour.

2 Timothy 1:9–10.—Which was given us. . . . before the world began, but is now made manifest, etc.

To God only wise, be glory, through Jesus Christ for ever (Greek, “for ever and ever”). Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17.—Now unto the King eternal (similar to “everlasting God” above), the only wise God (but “wise” is a doubtful reading), be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Stablish—that is, to confirm and strengthen in all the elements of a Christian character.

According to my gospel.—By those means of grace that the gospel I preach indicates and instructs you to use.

My gospel.—The gospel preached by me; the gospel preached as I preach it.

And the preaching of Jesus Christ.—And in accordance with that preaching, whose subject matter is Christ. The establishment of the Roman Christians was to take place through those appointed ways and means that are laid down in the gospel and form the main topic of Christian preaching. All means of grace center in Christ, and it is only in accordance with the proper proclamation of Him that the Christian can hope to become confirmed and strengthened.

According to the revelation.—An involved and difficult sentence. The two clauses that began with “according to” are coordinate and are both dependent on the word “stablish” above. “May God establish and confirm you in all those ways that the gospel of Christ lays down; that gospel whose introduction it has been reserved for these later days to see; a secret long hidden, but now revealed, and corroborated as it is by the prophetic writings, and preached by the Apostles at God’s express command; the great instrument for bringing the Gentiles to the faith.”

Of the mystery.—The word “mystery” is used elsewhere in the New Testament precisely in the sense that is so clearly defined in this passage: something that until the time of the Apostles had remained secret, but was then made known by divine intervention. The “mystery” thus revealed is the same as that described in the two preceding clauses—in one word, Christianity. Throughout the Old Testament dispensation, the Christian plan, which was then future, had remained hidden; now, with Christ’s coming, the veil has been taken away.

Since the world began.—The English phrase here is paraphrastic. Literally, the Greek is in eternal times—that is, from this present moment, stretching backwards throughout eternity—an emphatic way of saying, “never before.” “The Old Testament is the hand of a clock, proceeding silently round the dial—the New Testament is the striking of the hour” (Bengel).