This is it, the last of the letter. Unlike our salutations there’s no “Sincerely,” but Paul sincerely commits the Roman Christians to the care of the only wise God.

We’ll see a few more greetings in verses 21-23, then a send-off doxology in verses 25-27. Next week, Lord willing, we’ll take one more run at a Romans recap, then we’ll rejoice together on Resurrection Sunday.

Other Withs (verses 21-23)

Chapter 16 started with 13 expressions of greeting to those in Rome, verses 21-23 include four more greetings from those with Paul.

Timothy was one of Paul’s with-workers, and we know more about him than any other named person in the chapter. He even received two letters from Paul himself, extending the ministry to churches.

Lucius and Jason and Sosipater were more of Paul’s with-borns, called my kinsmen. There’s no reason to think they weren’t part of his extended family.

Verse 22 comes from Paul’s with-writer, though that is not actually a word; I made it up. I, Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. Have you heard of the job: amanuensis? It’s the academic name for a writing assistant, for one who takes dictation. Tertius wasn’t just a professional secretary, he himself cared about the believers in the Lord.

Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. If Pheobe hosted a church in the port city of Cenchrae, just south of Corinth, Gaius was hosting an assembly in Corinth itself and at least Paul as a guest.

Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. Just for sake of observation, while Paul told the Corinthians in his first letter to them that having a rank in the world didn’t guarantee having wisdom to know God, Erastus, who was a Corinthian, did have some recognizable rank, and had become a Christian. He likely had enough of a network to have known some who now lived in Rome.

You might not have noticed that, at least in the ESV, there is no verse 24 (NAS has it in brackets, KJV includes it). The more likely to be original manuscripts don’t have it, and if we read verse 20, we don’t miss anything.

Strengthening Worship (verses 25-27)

There is a difference between a Benediction and a Doxology. I think about it when I choose the final Scripture for our Lord’s Day worship. Paul ends different letters both ways, both are good, all are yours.

A benediction is a good word (from Latin bene and dico, good-speaking), a favor-blessing usually directed to/over the recipients. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (16:20) is a benediction, as were 15:6 and 15:13.

A doxology is a praise word (from Greek doxa is glory and logos, praise-speaking), an honor-blessing usually directed to God. Romans 11:33-36 is a previous doxology.

But both — praying to the Lord for His favor (benediction) and praising the Lord for His glory (doxology) — bless the hearers. It is good for us that this is our God, and so we lose nothing by finishing with doxology instead of benediction. It is a different kind of literary protein, both build the muscles of our faith.

Verses 25-27 make the longest doxology in the NT, one sentence stretched out (11:33-36 is like three within one, or even just verse 36 alone is the doxology proper).

Now to him who is able to strengthen you, and immediately we see how an attribute of God blesses the people who worship this God. We could pause here for a moment, because, are you allowed to be encouraged that God has abilities to enable your abilities? Or is that man-centered? Are you just coming to God because of what you can get from Him?

There is a kind of exaggerated pietism that is too good to ask God for help, as if helping “me” is below God. But God doesn’t want our strength, He wants us to thank Him and honor Him for all His power (see Romans 1:20-21, see also 2 Corinthians 4:7 and 12:9, see also Psalm 50:12-15).

The establishing/stabilizing/reinforcing comes according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, which, is Paul allowed to say “my” gospel (which he already did in Romans 2:16, too)? Again with the so afraid of being man-centered that we focus on how a man is doing it wrong. The gospel is the theme of the whole letter according to Romans 1:16, and note that the gospel converts only as the start, then it transforms (Romans 12:2) and fortifies.

This message is according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages. What is the mystery? The OT prophets knew a lot, including knowing that they didn’t know it all. We’re told some of them studied their own writings to know the time and person of the Christ (1 Peter 1:10-12). The identity of the Messiah was a secret, but so also that “a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).

Then light! There were shadows, but now there is substance. There had been questions but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations (ta ethne). Have all the Gentiles heard the gospel? Had Spain heard the gospel? The point here is that the gospel is good for all the peoples, that there is to be no narrowed for the Jews only even if “to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16).

While not revealed in its entirety, the revelation is not a change of course. The gospel has gone out according to the command of the eternal God. God is internationally known, eternally governing.

The gospel of salvation to all who believe was to bring about the obedience of faith. The only other place the phrase “the obedience of faith” is used is in Romans 1:5. In it is root and fruit, faith that leads to obedience. It is impossible to be justified by works/obedience, and those who have peace with God have been raised to walk in newness of life/obedience. So we keep living from faith to faith.

This is the second bookend, more about the “Him” of abilities in verse 25. God is also the God of wisdom: —to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. I appreciate that the ESV translates with an exclamation point.

Conclusion

There’s room to recap the whole epistle and some of the emphasis we’ve considered, but what can we take-away from the final praise?

God has wisdom and strength. Every moment God’s wisdom and strength works all things for good for the called, for those who love God. Do you love God? He is the God of all glory; none compare to Him. Do you love God? He is the God of all wisdom; He neither seeks nor needs counsel. Do you love God? He is the God of all power, who has sent His Son for the eternal blessing of all who believe.

From this doxology we are blessed to know that God is powerful, eternal, wise; those three attributes are stated explicitly. Also we see that God reveals His will. God has global intentions. God expects worship and obedience. God is personal, He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ and the gospel. God deserves all glory. And He delights in glorifying Himself by giving us strength to worship Him as our Rock. You’ve been called to believe, to live from faith to faith. This is the God in whom you believe.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
(Psalm 62:5–7 ESV)

All the alternatives are smoke. They are superstitions and ignorance rather than revelation, deaf and mute and mortal and worthless idols rather than true.

What are your temptations? What are your doubts? What are your sufferings? What are your weaknesses? Christian, do you need strength? There will be strength.

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Charge

God not only has the power to strengthen you if He wants to, HE WANTS TO. The eternal and wise God saves you by faith and STRENGTHENS your faith to persevere in praise. He wills strength for you because He wills glory for Him. There will be strength! Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Benediction:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV)