Romans 16:27
to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
to the only wise God
This phrase emphasizes the monotheistic belief central to Christianity, acknowledging that there is only one God who possesses ultimate wisdom. The Greek word for "wise" is "σοφός" (sophos), which implies not just knowledge but the application of knowledge in a way that is perfectly aligned with divine purposes. Historically, wisdom was highly valued in Jewish culture, as seen in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as Proverbs. This wisdom is not merely intellectual but is deeply moral and spiritual, reflecting God's perfect nature. The exclusivity of "only" underscores the Christian belief in the uniqueness of God, contrasting with the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in the Roman world.

be glory
The Greek word for "glory" is "δόξα" (doxa), which conveys a sense of honor, splendor, and divine radiance. In the biblical context, giving glory to God means recognizing His supreme authority and majesty. This phrase is a doxology, a short hymn of praises to God, which is a common feature in Paul's letters. The act of giving glory is not just verbal but involves a life that reflects God's character and purposes. Historically, the concept of glory was significant in both Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, often associated with divine presence and power.

forever
The Greek term "εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας" (eis tous aiōnas) translates to "into the ages," signifying eternity. This phrase highlights the eternal nature of God's glory, which is unending and unchanging. In a world where temporal power and glory were often celebrated, Paul emphasizes the everlasting nature of God's glory, which surpasses all earthly achievements. This eternal perspective is a cornerstone of Christian hope, assuring believers of God's unending reign and the eternal life promised through Christ.

through Jesus Christ
This phrase underscores the mediatorial role of Jesus Christ in the relationship between God and humanity. The Greek preposition "διά" (dia) indicates the means or channel through which God's glory is realized and experienced by believers. Jesus Christ is central to Christian theology as the one who reveals God's wisdom and glory to the world. Historically, this assertion was radical in a context where many gods and intermediaries were worshiped. It affirms the Christian belief in the unique and exclusive role of Jesus as the way to God, as stated in John 14:6.

Amen
The word "Amen" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "truly" or "so be it." It is a declaration of affirmation and agreement, often used at the end of prayers and doxologies. In the context of this verse, "Amen" serves as a strong affirmation of the truths expressed, inviting the reader or listener to join in the acknowledgment of God's wisdom and glory. The use of "Amen" connects the New Testament writings to the Jewish roots of Christianity, where it was commonly used in liturgical settings. It signifies the believer's wholehearted agreement with the praise and worship of God as expressed by Paul.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul is writing to the believers in Rome, concluding his epistle with a doxology that praises God.

2. The Church in Rome
The recipients of the letter, a diverse group of Jewish and Gentile Christians living in the capital of the Roman Empire.

3. Jesus Christ
Central to the doxology, Jesus is the means through which God's wisdom and glory are revealed.

4. God
Referred to as the "only wise God," emphasizing His unique and unparalleled wisdom.

5. Doxology
A liturgical formula of praise to God, often used to conclude letters or prayers in the New Testament.
Teaching Points
The Uniqueness of God's Wisdom
God's wisdom is unparalleled and unique. In a world filled with competing philosophies and ideas, believers are reminded to seek and trust in God's wisdom above all.

The Eternal Glory of God
God's glory is eternal, not bound by time or circumstance. This encourages believers to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on God's glory rather than temporary worldly concerns.

The Centrality of Jesus Christ
Jesus is the means through which God's wisdom and glory are revealed. This underscores the importance of a Christ-centered faith and life.

The Importance of Praise
The doxology serves as a reminder of the importance of praise in the believer's life. Regularly acknowledging God's wisdom and glory can strengthen faith and provide comfort.

Living Out the Doxology
Believers are called to live in a way that reflects God's wisdom and brings Him glory. This involves making choices that honor God and demonstrate His wisdom to the world.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does recognizing God as the "only wise God" influence your decision-making and priorities in daily life?

2. In what ways can you incorporate praise and doxology into your personal prayer life, following Paul's example in Romans 16:27?

3. How does understanding the eternal nature of God's glory impact your perspective on current challenges or trials you face?

4. What are some practical ways you can ensure that Jesus Christ remains central in your life, reflecting the truth of Romans 16:27?

5. How can you demonstrate God's wisdom and glory in your interactions with others, both within the church and in the broader community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Timothy 1:17
This verse also attributes glory and honor to God, emphasizing His eternal nature and wisdom, similar to the doxology in Romans 16:27.

Jude 1:25
Another doxology that praises God for His wisdom and glory, reinforcing the theme of God's unique and eternal nature.

Colossians 2:3
Highlights that all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, connecting to the idea of God's wisdom being revealed through Jesus.
Salutations and BenedictionsR.M. Edgar Romans 16:1-27
The Object and the Strength of a Christian ChurchC.H. Irwin Romans 16:20-27
Apostolic PraiseH. Bonar, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
Establishing GraceJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
God Only WiseC. Neil, M.A.Romans 16:25-27
God's WisdomRomans 16:25-27
PraiseJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
Stablished in the GospelLl. D. Bevan, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
The DoxologyW. Tyson.Romans 16:25-27
The Final CommendationT.F. Lockyer Romans 16:25-27
The Mystery of the GospelJ. Lyth, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
The Universal DoxologyLl. D. Bevan, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
The Universal GospelLl.D. Bevan, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
The World's Mystery Unfolded in ChristLl. D. Bevan, D.D.Romans 16:25-27
People
Amplias, Andronicus, Apelles, Aquila, Aristobulus, Asyncritus, Christians, Epaenetus, Erastus, Gaius, Hermas, Hermes, Herodion, Jason, Julia, Junia, Lucius, Mary, Narcissus, Nereus, Olympas, Patrobas, Paul, Persis, Phebe, Philologus, Phlegon, Prisca, Priscilla, Quartus, Romans, Rufus, Sosipater, Stachys, Tertius, Timotheus, Timothy, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Urbane
Places
Asia, Cenchreae, Rome
Topics
Ages, Amen, Christ, Evermore, Forever, Glory, Wise
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Romans 16:27

     1180   God, wisdom of
     1512   Trinity, equality of
     2024   Christ, glory of
     8440   glorifying God
     8608   prayer, and worship

Romans 16:3-27

     5328   greeting

Romans 16:25-27

     1444   revelation, NT
     7757   preaching, effects
     8634   amen

Library
July 29. "My Helpers in Christ Jesus" (Rom. xvi. 3).
"My helpers in Christ Jesus" (Rom. xvi. 3). Christ's Church is overrun with captains. She is in great need of a few more privates. A few rivers run into the sea, but a larger number run into other rivers. We cannot all be pioneers, but we can all be helpers, and no man is fitted to go in the front until he has learned well how to go second. A spirit of self-importance is fatal to all work for Christ. The biggest enemy of true spiritual power is spiritual self-consciousness. Joshua must die before
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Tryphena and Tryphosa
'Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord.'--ROMANS xvi. 12. The number of salutations to members of the Roman Church is remarkable when we take into account that Paul had never visited it. The capital drew all sorts of people to it, and probably there had been personal intercourse between most of the persons here mentioned and the Apostle in some part of his wandering life. He not only displays his intimate knowledge of the persons saluted, but his beautiful delicacy and ingenuity in
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Persis
'Salute the beloved Persis, who laboured much in the Lord.'--ROMANS xvi. 12. There are a great number of otherwise unknown Christians who pass for a moment before our view in this chapter. Their characterisations are like the slight outlines in the background of some great artist's canvas: a touch of the brush is all that is spared for each, and yet, if we like to look sympathetically, they live before us. Now, this good woman, about whom we never hear again, and for whom these few words are all
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

A Crushed Snake
'The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.'--ROMANS xvi. 20. There are three other Scriptural sayings which may have been floating in the Apostle's mind when he penned this triumphant assurance. 'Thou shalt bruise his head'; the great first Evangel--we are to be endowed with Christ's power; 'The lion and the adder thou shalt trample under foot'--all the strength that was given to ancient saints is ours; 'Behold! I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Tertius
'I, Tertius, who write the epistle, salute you in the Lord.'--ROMANS xvi. 22 (R.V.). One sometimes sees in old religious pictures, in some obscure corner, a tiny kneeling figure, the portrait of the artist. So Tertius here gets leave to hold the pen for a moment on his own account, and from Corinth sends his greeting to his unknown brethren in Rome. Apparently he was a stranger to them, and needed to introduce himself. He is never heard of before or since. For one brief moment he is visible, like
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Quartus a Brother
'Quartus a brother.'--ROMANS xvi. 23. I am afraid very few of us read often, or with much interest, those long lists of names at the end of Paul's letters. And yet there are plenty of lessons in them, if anybody will look at them lovingly and carefully. There does not seem much in these three words; but I am very much mistaken if they will not prove to be full of beauty and pathos, and to open out into a wonderful revelation of what Christianity is and does, as soon as we try to freshen them up
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Phoebe
'I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the Church that is at Cenchrea: 2. That ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the Saints, and that ye assist her in whatsover matter she may have need of you: for she herself hath been a succourer of many, and of mine own self.'--ROMANS xvi. 1, 2 (R.V.). This is an outline picture of an else wholly unknown person. She, like most of the other names mentioned in the salutations in this chapter, has had a singular fate. Every name, shadowy
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Two Households
'... Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 11. ... Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.'--ROMANS xvi. 10, 11. There does not seem much to be got out of these two sets of salutations to two households in Rome; but if we look at them with eyes in our heads, and some sympathy in our hearts, I think we shall get lessons worth the treasuring. In the first place, here are two sets of people, members of two different households, and that means mainly, if not
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Priscilla and Aquila
'Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus; 4. (Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but so all the churches of the Gentiles:) 5. Likewise greet the church that is in their house.'--ROMANS xvi. 3-5. It has struck me that this wedded couple present, even in the scanty notices that we have of them, some interesting points which may be worth while gathering together. Now, to begin with, we are told that Aquila was a Jew. We are not told whether
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Pastor's Parting Blessing
THE CHRISTIAN IS A MAN of generous actions, but his wishes go far beyond his deeds. Where he cannot be beneficent he is benevolent. If he cannot actually accomplish good for all, yet he anxiously desires it. If it be not in his power to confer grace upon any, yet he prays that God would give his grace to all the brotherhood. His heart entertains thousands, though his house might be overfull with ten; his liberal desires feed nations, even though his purse be so scant that he cannot afford more than
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Of this Weakness of His, He Saith in Another Place...
13. Of this weakness of his, he saith in another place, "We made ourselves small among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children." [2510] For in that passage the context indicates this: "For neither at any time," saith he, "used we flattering words, as ye know, nor an occasion of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome to you as the Apostles of Christ: but we made ourselves small among you, even as a nurse cherisheth
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
PHILIPPIANS iv. 1-9 Euodia and Syntyche--Conditions to unanimity--Great uses of small occasions--Connexion to the paragraphs--The fortress and the sentinel--A golden chain of truths--Joy in the Lord--Yieldingness--Prayer in everything--Activities of a heart at rest Ver. 1. +So, my brethren beloved and longed for+, missed indeed, at this long distance from you, +my joy and crown+ of victory (stephanos), +thus+, as having such certainties and such aims, with such a Saviour, and looking for such
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

Whether it is Lawful for a Bishop to have Property of his Own?
Objection 1: It would seem that it is not lawful for a bishop to have property of his own. For our Lord said (Mat. 19:21): "If thou wilt be perfect, go sell all [Vulg.: 'what] thou hast, and give to the poor . . . and come, follow Me"; whence it would seem to follow that voluntary poverty is requisite for perfection. Now bishops are in the state of perfection. Therefore it would seem unlawful for them to possess anything as their own. Objection 2: Further, bishops take the place of the apostles in
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Always Abounding in the Work of the Lord
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, , unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.'--1 Cor. 15:58 We all know the fifteenth chapter of 1st Corinthians, in its Divine revelation of the meaning of Christ's resurrection, with all the blessings of which it is the source. It gives us a living Saviour, who revealed Himself to His disciples on earth, and to Paul from heaven. It secures to us the complete deliverance from
Andrew Murray—Working For God!

The Death which Gives Life
'And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear His cross. 22. And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. 23. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not. 24. And when they had crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. 25. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26. And the superscription
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

After the Wreck
'And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2. And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Ignorance of Evil.
"And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil."--Gen. iii. 22. It is plain that the temptation under which man fell in paradise was this, an ambitious curiosity after knowledge which was not allowed him: next came the desire of the eyes and the flesh, but the forbidden tree was called the tree of knowledge; the Tempter promised knowledge; and after the fall Almighty God pronounced, as in the text, that man had gained it. "Behold, the man is become as
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Epistle of Saint Jude.
V. 1, 2. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James, to those that are called to be holy in God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied. This Epistle is ascribed to the holy Apostle, St. Jude, brother of the two Apostles, James the Less and Simon, by the sister of the mother of Christ, who is called Mary (wife) of James or Cleopas, as we read in Mark vi. But this Epistle cannot be looked upon as being that of one who was truly an Apostle,
Martin Luther—The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained

Epistle Xl. To Mauricius Augustus.
To Mauricius Augustus. Gregory to Mauricius, &c. The Piety of my Lords in their most serene commands, while set on refuting me on certain matters, in sparing me has by no means spared me. For by the use therein of the term simplicity they politely call me silly. It is true indeed that in Holy Scripture, when simplicity is spoken of in a good sense, it is often carefully associated with prudence and uprightness. Hence it is written of the blessed Job, The man was simple and upright (Job i. 1).
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Christ Crucified
"And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear His cross. And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they offered Him wine mingled with myrrh: but He received it not. And they crucify Him, and part His garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the superscription of
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

How the Simple and the Crafty are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 12.) Differently to be admonished are the simple and the insincere. The simple are to be praised for studying never to say what is false, but to be admonished to know how sometimes to be silent about what is true. For, as falsehood has always harmed him that speaks it, so sometimes the hearing of truth has done harm to some. Wherefore the Lord before His disciples, tempering His speech with silence, says, I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now (Joh. xvi. 12).
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Thirty-First Day. Holiness and Heaven.
Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of men ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness?'--2 Pet. iii. 11. 'Follow after the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord.'--Heb. xii. 14. 'He that is holy, let him be made holy still.... The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the holy ones. Amen.'--Rev. xxii. 11, 21. O my brother, we are on our way to see God. We have been invited to meet the Holy One face to face. The infinite mystery of holiness, the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

The Work of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Scriptures in the New Testament. "But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."--John xx. 31. Having considered the apostolate, we are now to discuss God's gift to the Church, viz. the New Testament Scripture. The apostolate placed a new power in the Church. Surely all power is in heaven; but it has pleased God to let this power descend in the Church by means of organs and instruments, chief
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Extracts No. viii.
"In regard to the story reported among the Jews, respecting the body of Jesus, I admit there is a greater probability of there being such a report, especially if the body could not be found, and the apostles affirmed that he was risen from the dead, than there is that the resurrection, should be actually true: hence, perhaps, I was not so much on my guard in the expression as I ought to have been. What I particularly had in my mind was, that I might find it difficult to prove even the existence of
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation

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