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ROMANS CHAPTER 16
OBSERVATION STAGE
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans.
This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.
(Ro 16:1 NKJV) "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
(Ro 16:2 NKJV) that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
(Ro 16:3 NKJV) Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
(Ro 16:4 NKJV) who risked [lit., laid down] their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles
(Ro 16:5 NKJV) Likewise [lit., "and greet"] the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
(Ro 16:6 NKJV) Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
(Ro 16:7 NKJV) Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
(Ro 16:8 NKJV) Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.
(Ro 16:9 NKJV) Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
(Ro 16:10 NKJV) Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the [household] of Aristobulus.
(Ro 16:11 NKJV) Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the [household] of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
(Ro 16:12 NKJV) Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
(Ro 16:13 NKJV) Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
(Ro 16:14 NKJV) Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.
(Ro 16:15 NKJV) Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
(Ro 16:16 NKJV) Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you."
(Ro 16:1 NKJV) "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, (Ro 16:2 NKJV) that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also." =
Paul had persuaded Phoebe to carry his letter on her way to Rome. He commended her to the Roman believers - to be received as a sister in Christ. He informed them that she was a key servant of the church in Cenchrea, (a seaport which served Corinth, a few miles to the east). Phoebe had been a helper of many including Paul, hence his mention of her being a servant of the church in Cenchrea, evidently a key servant of import there. So Paul told them to assist her in whatever business she had need of them for.
[Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord & Zuck, Eds, Victor Books, USA, 1988, p. 499]:
"16:1-2. Phoebe (which means 'bright, radiant') was Paul's emissary to deliver this letter, so he wrote officially, I commend to you our sister Phoebe. The relationship mentioned is spiritual, not familial. Phoebe was a servant of the church in Cenchrea, a seaport a few miles east of Corinth... Paul not only officially commended her..., but also asked the Roman Christians to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help (lit., 'and you may assist her in whatever') she may need from you. Paul explained for she has been a great help [prostatis, 'a helper'] to many people, including me. So they should help her since she had helped others."
(Ro 16:3 NKJV) "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, (Ro 16:4 NKJV) who risked [lit., laid down] their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. (Ro 16:5 NKJV) Likewise [lit., "and greet"] the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. (Ro 16:6 NKJV) Greet Mary, who labored much for us. (Ro 16:7 NKJV) Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. (Ro 16:8 NKJV) Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. (Ro 16:9 NKJV) Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. (Ro 16:10 NKJV) Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the [household] of Aristobulus. (Ro 16:11 NKJV) Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the [household] of Narcissus who are in the Lord. (Ro 16:12 NKJV) Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. (Ro 16:13 NKJV) Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. (Ro 16:14 NKJV) Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. (Ro 16:15 NKJV) Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. (Ro 16:16 NKJV) Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you." =
For the next 14 verses, Paul sends his greetings to a number of believers in Rome, specifically mentioning them in a commendatory, personal and often affectionate manner:
"Greet Priscilla and Aquila" who are declared to be fellow workers in Christ Jesus who risked their lives for Paul, "to whom not only I [Paul] give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles," implying that they also supported Paul in his work, (vv. 16:3-4). And Paul goes on to send his greetings to the church that is in the house of Priscilla and Aquila - and Paul's beloved friend in Christ, Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits, i.e., first convert to Christ from Achaia via Paul's preaching. Paul confesses to a very warm personal friendship with Epaenetus, demonstrating the reality and depth of Christian friendship that develped between himself and other co-workers in Christ wherein they gave of themselves to one another in their common cause for Jesus Christ, (v. 16:5).
The greetings of Paul continue to be extended:
to Mary, lit., Mariam, evidently a Jewish woman, who labored much for Paul and his group, (v. 16:6);
and to Andronicus and Junia, Paul's countrymen, i.e., Jews and fellow prisoners. Evidently they were imprisoned with Paul. They were commended as noteworthy among the apostles in the sense of being outstanding messengers, ('apostles') of the faith and Christian leaders. Paul noted that they became believers before Paul did, (v. 16:7);
to Amplias also, Paul's beloved friend in the Lord, (v. 16:8);
to Urbanus, fellow worker in Christ, to his much beloved brother in Christ, Stachys, (v. 16:9);
to Apelles, approved in Christ in the sense of demonstrating his faithfulness to the cause of Christ; and to those of the household of Aristobulus, (v. 16:10);
to Herodion, Paul's countryman, (fellow Jew), and to those of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord, (v. 16:11);
to Tyrphena and Tyrphosa and Persis, who have labored much in the Lord, (v. 16:12);
to Rufus, 'chosen in the Lord' evidently Paul's emphasis of chosen for giving remarkable service to the Lord, and his mother and Paul's. Evidently, Rufus' mother 'adopted' Paul as her son in view of the absence of a mother in Paul's life since he became a believer, (v. 16:13);
to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes and the brethren (believers) who are with them, (v. 16:14);
to Philogous, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympus, and all the saints with them, (v. 16:15);
Paul then says for the Roman believers to 'Greet one another with a holy kiss, an affectionate Christian greeting of those days. Finally, Paul speaks for all the churches when he says, "The churches of Christ greet you," (v. 16:16).
Note that Paul's personal statements to individual believers in Rome speaks of his personal involvement with people face to face - one of deep concern for their spiritual welfare.
[BKC, op. cit., p. 499]:
"The capital city of Rome was a magnet that drew people from all over the empire. In addition Paul's travels to many of the major population centers - Jerusalem, Syrian Antioch, Philippi, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus - brought him into contact with the mobile segment of Roman society. These factors help explain the presence of Paul's many friends in Rome, but his knowledge of their whereabouts remains a tribute to his deep concern for people...
16:3-5. This list of greetings (vv. 3-16) that Paul wanted conveyed to friends in Rome is the longest in any of his epistles. He mentioned 26 people by name, and referred to many others (vv. 5, 10-11, 13-15). Several women are included in the list: Priscilla (v. 3), Mary (v. 6), Tryphena and Tryphosa (v. 12), Persis (v. 12), Rufus' mother (v. 13), and Nereus' sister (v. 15). Two others are possibly women - Junias (v. 7) and Julia (v. 15)...
Paul paid them great praise, calling them my fellow workers in Christ Jesus and revealing that they risked their lives for me (lit., 'they lay down their own neck for my soul')... All the Gentile churches, Paul added, were grateful to them. Paul also sent greetings to the church that met at their house. The Christians in Rome apparently worshiped in numerous homes such as Priscilla and Aquila's...
Epenetus, to whom greetings were sent, is mentioned only here, but is called by Paul my dear friend (lit., 'the one loved by me'; cf. Stachys, v. 9). He was the first convert (lit., 'the firstfruits') to Christ in the province of Asia...
16:6-7. Mary is identified simply as one who worked very hard ('toiled much'; cf. v. 12). Some Greek manuscripts read Mariam, the Hebrew form, which probably identifies this woman as a Jew.
Andronicus and Junias, greeted together, may have been husband and wife; Junias can be either masculine or feminine. Paul called them my relatives, which probably refers to a tribal, not a family kinship (cf. 9:3). He also mentioned four other 'relatives' (16:11, 21). He said Andronicus and Junias had been in prison with him (lit., 'my fellow prisoners'); when or where this occurred is not mentioned... Paul commended them as outstanding (episEmoi, lit., 'having a mark [sEma] on them,' therefore 'illustrious, notable, outstanding') among the apostles. The word 'apostles' is probably used here in the broader, general sense in which Barnabas, Silas, and others were called apostles...
Paul added, They were (perf. tense, 'they came to be and still are') in Christ before I was. So they had been believers for about 25 years16:8-11. Ampliatus was one Paul loved in the Lord. This was high praise from the apostle. Urbanus was called our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys was addressed as my dear friend (lit., 'the one loved by me'; cf. Epenetus, v. 5). Paul said Apelles was tested and approved (ton dokimon, 'the one approved through testing'; cf. the same word trans. 'approved,' 14:18; the related infinitive dokimazein is trans. 'to test and approve,' 12:2). Without naming other individuals Paul sent greetings to those who belong to the household of Aristobulus...
Herodion was greeted as my relative, but once again the relationship was probably tribal and not familial (cf. vv. 7, 21)... Once again without naming individuals Paul sent greetings to those in the household of Narcissus (lit., 'those out of, belonging to Narcissus'; cf. v. 10). But Paul restricted his greetings to the ones who are in the Lord...
16:12-13. Paul sent greetings jointly to Tryphena and Tryphosa, identifying them as those women who work hard ('toil') in the Lord... Then Persis, addressed as my dear friend (lit., 'the one loved'), was another woman who has worked very hard ('toiled much') in the Lord. Interestingly four women were said to have 'worked hard' (cf. Mary, v. 6).
... Rufus was chosen in the Lord, a statement true of every believer... Consequently the word translated 'chosen' may mean 'eminent,' since it was given to Rufus as a statement of distinction. The greeting included Rufus' mother who, Paul said, had also been a mother to him. Paul obviously did not say she was his actual mother, but he had been the recipient of her motherly care.
16:14-16. The next five names mentioned together (v. 14) evidently had something in common, perhaps as leaders of another house church. This may be indicated by the reference to the brothers with them. They are all common names, particularly among slaves... Nereus and his sister were then greeted, though the sister's name is not given. And finally, greetings were sent to Olympas and all the saints with him, (cf. v. 14).
Of all these individuals only Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament for certain; yet Paul knew them all individually and sent personal greetings to them and their associates. Paul cannot properly be charged with not being 'a people person.' He closed this section with the command, Greet one another with a holy kiss, the mode of salutation similar to the handshake today... and with a general word of salutation, All the churches of Christ send greetings (lit., 'greet you')."
(Ro 16:17 NKJV) "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
(Ro 16:18 NKJV) For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words [lit., "kind speaking"] and flattering speech [lit., "praise"] deceive the hearts of the simple [lit., "innocent"]
(Ro 16:19 NAS) For [the report] of your obedience has reached to all [i.e., For your obedience has become known to all]; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent [lit., "simple"] in what is evil.
(Ro 16:20 NAS) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
(Ro 16:17 NKJV) "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. (Ro 16:18 NKJV) For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words [lit., "kind speaking"] and flattering speech [lit., "praise"] deceive the hearts of the simple [lit., "innocent"] (Ro 16:19 NAS) For [the report] of your obedience has reached to all [i.e., For your obedience has become known to all]; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent [lit., "simple"] in what is evil. (Ro 16:20 NAS) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." =
Paul cautions fellow believers, (lit., "brethren") to avoid those who cause divisions and offenses due to actions contrary to the doctrines of the faith which the believers had learned. A key point is made by Paul that these divisive and offensive individuals were not doctrinally sound. They consequently caused divisions and offenses and were known by their smooth, flattering speech [lit., "kind speaking and praise"] which served their own purposes [lit., "belly"] and not the purpose of the Lord. Paul wrote that they were known to deceive the hearts (minds) of the simple, i.e., immature believer. This does not say that one should avoid everyone who contends, (argues) for the doctrines of the faith as some contend; but those who contradict what the bible teaches, (Ro 16:17b). Accuracy not arguing is the issue. Then, in Ro 16:19-20, Paul acknowledges that the Roman believers' obedience to the doctrines of the faith was well known. To this Paul rejoiced, but he admonished them to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil, for Paul wrote that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under their feet. He prayed that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with them. Note that in these last days of Paul's time and our current age - the time frame for when Satan is crushed under the feet of all believers is sooner than later - words of encouragement from Paul. Nevertheless, it is good that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ - His unmerited blessing - be with the Roman believers as Paul prays in their behalf.
(Ro 16:21 NAS) "Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
(Ro 16:22 NAS) I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.
(Ro 16:23 NAS) Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.
(Ro 16:24 NAS) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
(Ro 16:21 NAS) "Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. (Ro 16:22 NAS) I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. (Ro 16:23 NAS) Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. (Ro 16:24 NAS) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." =
In Ro 16:21, Paul conveys greetings to the Roman believers from:
Timothy, his fellow worker and from Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, Paul's kinsmen, (fellow Jews), (v 16:21).
Tertius then writes his own greeting to the Roman believers, since he is evidently Paul's secretary: "I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord," (v. 16:22);
and greetings came from Gaius, host to Paul and to the whole church, i.e., the local church in Corinth where Paul was writing his letter;
and Erastus, the city treasurer and his brother, Quartus send their greetings, (v. 16:23).
Paul closes their greetings with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen," (v. 16:24).
(Ro 16:25 NAS) Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to... revelation of ... mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past
(Ro 16:26 NKJV) but now made manifest [lit., "having been manifested"], and by the prophetic Scriptures made known [lit., having been made known] to all nations [i.e., Gentiles], according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith -
(Ro 16:27 NKJV) to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."
(Ro 16:25a NAS) "Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel" =
Note that the gospel of God is for all individuals, Jew and Gentile alike, to be made their own by believing in it and proclaiming it exclusively as Paul did:
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God"
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
So Paul
concludes his most comprehensive letter on the doctrines of the faith
giving praise to God beginning in Ro 16:25 with Paul magnifying God: "Now
to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel." Since
Paul's gospel, the gospel which Paul claims to be his own by virtue of his
(and any man's, cf. Ro 1:16), exclusive belief and proclamation of it,
establishes a temporal and eternal life relationship with God through a
moment of faith alone in Christ alone, (cf. Ro 3:21-24
);
then the phrase "Now to Him Who is able to "stErizai" = to
establish you according to my gospel" refers to God Whom Paul implies
is alone able to establish in "you," the Roman believers and all
who believe, a temporal and eternal life relationship with Himself through
a moment of faith alone in Christ alone.
With this in view, Paul offers high praise to God at the end of this section - the end of his letter to the Roman believers:
(Ro 16:27 NKJV) to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen."
(Ro 16:25 NAS) "Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to... revelation of ... mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past" =
"TO ......de ...dunamenO humas stErizai ......kata ...............to ..euangelion
"To the .now being able .you .....to establish according to .the good news
mou kai .........................to .kErugma ........IEsou Christou"
my and [according to] the proclamation .of Jesus Christ"
Note that the
Greek word "kata" rendered "according to" in the
phrase, "kata to euangelion mou" = "according to my gospel"
also applies forward to the next phrase in 16:25, "kai [kata] to
kErugman IEsou Christou," rendered in the NAS "and [according
to] the preaching [lit., 'proclamation'] of Jesus Christ," which
defines what Paul's gospel is: the proclamation of believing in Jesus
Christ's atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world to be justified
unto an eternal righteousness and eternal life, (cf. Ro 3:21-24
).
This is further corroborated by the following: since an individual is
established by God to have a temporal and eternal life relationship with
Himself according to the gospel which Paul refers to as "my gospel,"
(Ro 16:25a); and since an individual is likewise stipulated as established
in a temporal and eternal life relationship with God according to the
preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, (Ro 16:25b); then Paul's
gospel is according to the proclamation of Jesus Christ.
(Ro 16:25 NAS) "Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to... revelation of ... mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past" =
Notice the Greek phrase in Ro 16:25: "chronois aiOniois ....sesigEmenou
................................................................"in times .of the ages .having been kept secret" .......
The phrase is an idiomatic expression which qualifies the gospel to be according to revelation of mystery (lit., ) "in times of the ages having been kept secret." The two words within that phrase, "chronois aiOniois" literally rendered "in times of the ages" have in view a period of time extending for ages; hence "aiOniois" meaning "of the ages," being plural, refers to a very long period of time. So the NAS renders it, "According to [Paul's] gospel and [according to] the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to ...revelation of ...mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past."
The gospel is further described in Ro 16:26c in the Greek as "kata apokalupsin mustEriou chronois aiOniois" rendered in the NAS, "according to ... revelation of ... mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past." The Greek words "apokalupsin, " lit., revelation and "mustEriou," lit., "of mystery" in 16:26c are without the definite article emphasizing having the characteristic of. The words are defined in Webster's New Intercollegiate Dictionary as follows: "revelation" = having the characteristic of "something that is revealed by God to man," implying that the gospel is presented by God to man in a manner which is knowable; and "mystery" = having the characteristic of "something not understood;" hence in Romans 16:26, that which man has chosen not to know. In view of the absence of the definite article in the Greek for either word, Ro 16:25 is more accurately rendered, "Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to..revelation of mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past," emphasizing that the gospel is characterized as revelation, i.e., characterized as disclosure in a clear, discernible manner to men, evidently in the prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament, (cf. Ro 16:26b), so that men can know it and choose to believe in it:
(Ro 16:26 NKJV) "but now made manifest [lit., "having been manifested"],..and by the prophetic Scriptures made known [lit., having been made known] to all nations [i.e., Gentiles], according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith"
On the other hand, Paul's gospel is according to that which is characterized by revelation from God to man, yet revelation of mystery, i.e., a characterization of the gospel such that man has chosen to neither know nor believe in it and as such kept secret for long ages past. So the phrase "revelation of mystery," in Ro 16:26c presents an apparent contradiction. How can a mystery be revealed for one to know, when a mystery is defined as something that man does not know and in Ro 16:25-26 implied as through willful ignorance and as such has been kept secret for long ages past?
Since God's
revelation to man by definition is to be knowable so that men can be held
accountable, then God has revealed the gospel in the Old Testament, the
prophetic Scriptures, in a knowable manner for men to read, believe and be
held accountable to; (cf. Ro 4:3 & Gen 15:6
);
and since the
gospel is characterized as mystery which by definition is to be not
knowable and as such has been kept secret for long ages past, (Ro 16:26),
then it is implied that men throughout long ages past, notably Gentiles in
this passage, have remained willfully ignorant of the gospel, causing it
to be characterized by mystery having been kept secret for ages until God
might intervene into the minds of men to enable them to choose to know and
believe in the gospel of God, i.e., to believe in the atoning sacrifice of
our Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind to be justified unto an
eternal righteousness and receive eternal life, (cf. Ro 3:21-24
).
Since the
sovereignty of the gospel and revelation from God to man, is God's alone,
(cf. Ro 1:1); and since the gospel is according to revelation of mystery
which has been kept secret for long ages past; then it is God Who has kept
secret the gospel by not intervening for ages until the time when God has
decreed that the prophetic Scriptures will be fulfilled in the time of
Christ, (cf. Ro 3:23-26 ).
(Ro 3:23 NIV) "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Ro 3:24 NIV) and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
(Ro 3:25a NAS) Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith [for a display].
(Ro 3:25b NAS) This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed
(Ro 3:26 NAS) for the demonstration, [I say], of His [God's] righteousness at the present time, that He [God] might be just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus"
On the other
hand, there has always been a remnant of believers in every age which has
come to know and believe in the gospel by the gracious intervention of
God, (Ro 9:27-29; 11:1-5, 11-12 ).
(Ro 16:25 NAS) Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to... revelation of ... mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, (Ro 16:26a & b NKJV) but now [the gospel, the proclamation of Jesus Christ has been] made manifest [lit., "having been manifested"], and by the prophetic Scriptures made known [lit., having been made known] to all nations." =
Romans 16:25 has in view the gospel of Paul, the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to revelation of mystery kept secret for long ages past; i.e., according to disclosure by God of the gospel in a clear, discernible manner to men so that they can know it and choose to believe in it; yet the gospel is stipulated as according to revelation of mystery wherein men neither chose to know nor believe in it, due to willful ignorance. As such it was kept secret for long ages past. This implies the need for God to intervene in the minds of men to enable them to choose to know and believe in the gospel.
Romans 16:26 then says, "but now" - implying the historical time of Paul and our current age - the revelation of mystery of the gospel has been "made manifest to the nations", i.e., to the Gentiles - to all mankind, implying that an intervention within the minds of men has enabled them to choose to know and believe in the gospel. So in Paul's time and our current age, Gentiles have chosen to know and believe in the gospel and have thereby been established in a temporal and eternal life relationship with God. This evidently by God through Paul's and others' preaching of it, (Ro 16:25). Likewise, through God the gospel has now been made known to the nations, the Gentiles, by examination of the prophetic Scriptures, (Ro 16:26).
So to summarize:
since, in Paul's time and our current age, "by the prophetic Scriptures [the gospel has been] made known to all nations," (Ro 16:26); then this implies that those Scriptures do present the gospel in a knowable manner;
and since those prophetic Scriptures present the gospel in a knowable manner and have been characterized as presenting the gospel "according to revelation of mystery kept secret for long ages past," (Ro 16:25); then this implies that men neither chose to know nor believe in the gospel due to willful, ignorance and that God has to and did intervene in the time of Paul and our current age in the minds of men to enable them to choose to know and believe in the gospel of God.
(Ro 16:25 NAS) "Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to... revelation of ... mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, (Ro 16:26 NKJV) but now made manifest [lit., "having been manifested"], and by the prophetic Scriptures having been made known [lit., having been made known] to all nations according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith" =
Romans 16:25 has in view the gospel of Paul, the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to revelation of mystery kept secret for long ages past; i.e., according to disclosure by God of the gospel in a clear, discernible manner to men so that they can know it and choose to believe in it; yet the gospel is stipulated as according to revelation of mystery wherein men neither chose to know nor believe in it, due to willful ignorance. As such it was kept secret for long ages past. This implies the need for God to intervene in the minds of men to enable them to choose to know and believe in the gospel.
Romans 16:26 then says, "but now" - implying the historical time of Paul and our current age - the revelation of mystery of the gospel has been "made manifest to the nations", i.e., to the Gentiles - to mankind, implying that an intervention within the minds of a number of men has enabled them to choose to know and believe in the gospel. So in Paul's time and our current age, a number of Gentiles have chosen to know and believe in the gospel and have thereby been established in a temporal and eternal life relationship with God. This evidently by God through Paul's and others' preaching of it, (Ro 16:25). Likewise, through God the gospel has now been made known to the nations, the Gentiles, by examination of the prophetic Scriptures, (Ro 16:26).
Since the Prophetic Scriptures have contained the revelation of the gospel "for long ages past;" and since the gospel has been manifested, i.e., has been made known to men in Paul's time and in our current age through the proclamation of it and known through those prophetic Scriptures, (Ro 16:25-26); then the fault lies in men for not knowing and believing in the gospel - causing it to be characterized as "revelation of mystery kept secret for long ages past." Furthermore, Ro 16:26c indicates that man's coming to knowledge of the gospel is "according to the commandment of the everlasting God" implying God's intervention. Finally, Ro 16:26d says that in Paul's time and our current age - according to the commandment of the everlasting God, the gospel has been made known by the prophetic Scriptures to all nations - the Gentiles, for obedience to the faith, i.e., for men to exercise obedience to the doctrines of the faith in Scripture, of which the first obedience is simply to believe in the gospel unto an eternal relationship with God unto eternal life - see excerpt below; whereupon consequent obedience to the doctrines of the faith result in an ongoing blessed temporal life with God - being established by God through the gospel in a temporal and eternal life relationship with Him:
*** EXCERPT FROM ROMANS CHAPTER ONE ***
(v. 1) "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God - (v. 2) the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures (v. 3) regarding His Son, Who as to His human nature was a descendant of David, (v. 4) and Who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord (v. 5 NAS) thro ugh Whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith [in the gospel, vv. 1 & 2] among all the Gentiles for His name's sake =
(v. 5) "di .hou .....elabomen ....charin kai apostolEn .eis ...hupakoEn pisteOs
"by Whom we received .grace and apostleship unto obedience .of faith
en ........pasin .tois .ethnesin huper .....tou .onomatos autou"
among .all .....the ..nations ..in behalf of ...name ........His"
Paul's duty is to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience of faith in the gospel, i.e., to call people from among the Gentiles to obey what the gospel of Christ commands of one: to believe in it. Just as obedience to the command to not covet in the Ten Commandments is obeyed in the mind, so obedience to the gospel is obeyed in the mind by believing in it, that Christ died for ones sins - no further response required. Notice that a moment of faith alone in Christ alone is in view. Ongoing faith and faithfulness is excluded.
*** END OF EXCERPT FROM ROMANS CHAPTER ONE ***
(Ro 16:25 NAS) Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching [lit., proclamation] of Jesus Christ, according to... revelation of ... mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, (Ro 16:26 NKJV) but now made manifest [lit., "having been manifested"], and by the prophetic Scriptures made known [lit., having been made known] to all nations [i.e., Gentiles], according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith - (Ro 16:27 NKJV) to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." =
Paul writes in the last three verses of his letter to the Roman believers, that since God alone is able to establish one in a temporal and eternal life relationship with Himself through a moment of faith alone in Jesus Christ alone; and since it is God alone Who is able to enable men to know and choose to believe in the gospel, through the proclamation of the gospel and through the prophetic Scriptures; then to God Who alone is wise, be glory through Jesus Christ, forever, Amen, (Ro 16:27).