John Calvin Commentary Romans 11:36

"For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him [be] the glory for ever. Amen." — Romans 11:36 (ASV)

For from him and through him, etc. This is a confirmation of the last verse. He shows that it is far from true that we can glory in any good thing of our own against God, since we have been created by him from nothing and now exist through him.

From this, he infers that our existence should be used for his glory. For how unreasonable would it be for creatures, whom he has formed and whom he sustains, to live for any other purpose than for making his glory known?

I am aware that the phrase εἰς αὐτὸν, to him, is sometimes taken for ἐν αὐτῷ, in or by him, but this is incorrect. As its proper meaning is more suitable to the current subject, it is better to retain it than to adopt what is improper.

The meaning of what is said is this: that the whole order of nature would be strangely subverted if God, who is the beginning of all things, were not also the end.

To him be glory, etc. The proposition having been, as it were, proved, he now confidently assumes it as indubitable—that the Lord’s own glory ought everywhere to remain his unchangeably.

For the sentence would be weak if it were taken generally; its emphasis, however, depends on the context: that God justly claims for himself absolute supremacy, and that in the condition of mankind and of the whole world, nothing is to be sought beyond his own glory.

It therefore follows that absurd and contrary to reason, and even insane, are all those sentiments that tend to diminish his glory.