Romans 16:25

Romans 16:25, in plain English

Paul breaks into a beautiful prayer, saying that God is the one who can make you spiritually strong through the gospel message and through the announcement of who Jesus is — and this message is based on a secret that God had been keeping hidden since before time began.

Why it's here

After listing all these greetings, Paul suddenly pivots to praise. He's thinking about the magnitude of what's happened — that God kept this plan for Jesus hidden through all of history and is only now revealing it. The Romans facing persecution and confusion needed to remember that they weren't following some new, untested idea; they were part of something God had planned since eternity. That's what gives real strength.

Who's speaking

Paul is speaking directly to the Romans in prayer.

Where it sits in the story

This connects to one of the biggest themes running through Romans — the idea that God's plan to save people through faith in Jesus wasn't a last-minute fix or a backup plan. It was always part of God's design, hidden in the Old Testament and now unveiled. You belong to something ancient and eternal, not something brand new and shaky.

The scholarly reading

Paul opens his final doxology by attributing to God alone the power to establish the Roman believers through the gospel and the proclamation of Christ, grounded in a mystery revealed through Scripture.

Language and setting

This verse inaugurates Romans' closing doxology (vv. 25-27), which functions as both liturgical climax and theological summary. The phrase 'able to strengthen' (δυνατὸς στηρίξαι, dynamatòs stēríxai) echoes Paul's earlier concern that weak believers be upheld (14:1; 15:1), now reframed as God's prerogative and power. 'My gospel' (τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου, tò euangelión mou) is Paul's characteristic way of asserting ownership of the gospel message he has received and proclaims—not original to Paul but authenticated through his apostolic commission. The reference to 'the revelation of the mystery' (ἀποκάλυψις μυστηρίου, apokalýpsis mystēríou) links back to Paul's opening in 1:17 and establishes that the entire epistle has been an unpacking of divine mystery.

Voice

Paul, speaking in his own voice but invoking God's agency

Significance

This opens the theological conclusion to an epistle that has wrestled with how God's saving purposes encompass both Jew and Gentile, now framed as part of an eternal mystery made manifest in Christ—the ultimate reconciliation of God's covenant people.

23Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings.

25Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past

26but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith —

27to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Read all of Romans 16 — Paul names over two dozen co-workers — men and women, Jews and Gentiles — revealing a movement built on real relationships and shared sacrifice.