Rom 16:25-27 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rom 16:25-27: 16:25-27 This doxology makes a very appropriate conclusion to Paul’s letter and its argument, reprising many of the themes found at the very beginning (1:1-15 ). • The doxology is missing in two late manuscripts and is in different places in other manuscripts (after 14:23 and after 15:33 ). Therefore, these verses might have been added to Paul’s letter at a later time. However, the majority of manuscripts do include the doxology at the end of the letter, and it uses vocabulary and themes common in the rest of the letter. Paul most likely wrote it himself as a conclusion to the letter. 16:25 plan (literally mystery ): For Paul, the mystery is the truth about God and his plan that was not clearly known in the Old Testament era but which has been revealed in the New Testament era. While the Old Testament predicted the conversion of Gentiles, it did not make clear that Gentiles would become equal members of the people of God without becoming proselytes of Judaism.

a16:25-27►

b1:1-15►

‏ Romans 16:25-27

Summary for Rom 16:25-27: 16:25-27 ^a This doxology makes a very appropriate conclusion to Paul’s letter and its argument, reprising many of the themes found at the very beginning (1:1-15 ^b).

• The doxology is missing in two late manuscripts and is in different places in other manuscripts (after 14:23 ^c and after 15:33 ^d). Therefore, these verses might have been added to Paul’s letter at a later time. However, the majority of manuscripts do include the doxology at the end of the letter, and it uses vocabulary and themes common in the rest of the letter. Paul most likely wrote it himself as a conclusion to the letter. 16:25 ^e plan (literally mystery): For Paul, the mystery is the truth about God and his plan that was not clearly known in the Old Testament era but which has been revealed in the New Testament era. While the Old Testament predicted the conversion of Gentiles, it did not make clear that Gentiles would become equal members of the people of God without becoming proselytes of Judaism.
16:26 ^f so that they too might believe and obey him: Paul uses the same language about the mission to the Gentiles that he used in 1:5 ^g, creating a beautiful frame around the letter as a whole.