Romans 16:25
What does Romans 16:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 16:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 16:25 means
Paul begins a doxology, praising God who is able to strengthen believers according to the gospel he proclaims and the preaching about Jesus Christ. He frames the gospel as the unveiling of a long-hidden mystery—God’s saving plan concealed through the ages but now disclosed. Stability in faith comes from this Christ-centered message. The “mystery” is not a puzzle for the elite but God’s once-veiled purpose now made plain in the coming and work of Jesus. God’s power to establish His people rests on this revelation, not on human wisdom or tradition.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now to him who is able to make you strong in agreement with the good news which I gave you and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in the light of the revelation of that secret which has been kept through times eternal,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And to Him who is able to establish you, according to my good news, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the secret, in the times of the ages having been kept silent,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret from eternity;
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my glad tidings and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to [the] revelation of [the] mystery, as to which silence has been kept in [the] times of the ages,
Context
With the personal greetings completed, Paul lifts the church’s eyes from local relationships to God’s eternal purposes. The doxology begins by anchoring their stability in the gospel concerning Jesus and in the revealed mystery long kept silent. Verse 26 will expand on how this revelation is made known—through prophetic Scriptures and God’s command—to all nations for obedient faith. Verse 27 will complete the praise, ascribing eternal glory to the only wise God through Jesus Christ.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 1:2
in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;
- Ephesians 6:19
and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
- Daniel 2:22
he revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
- Matthew 13:17
For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.
- 1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.
- 1 Corinthians 2:1
And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
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