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Today's Pathway: Romans 16:21-27 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now 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, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Paul is bringing his epistle to its conclusion. In verses 21-24 he mentions the names of several individuals who were assisting him in his work. Timotheus is Timothy, to whom Paul wrote two letters in Scripture. Lucius had been one of the teachers at the church in Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1). Jason may be the man who housed Paul in Thessalonica and was arrested for doing so (Acts 17:1-9). Sosipater accompanied Paul in his journey to Macedonia (Acts 20:3-4). Gaius was baptized by Paul in Corinth (I Corinthians 1:14), and also traveled with him. Tertius only appears in this verse, but he is the one who actually writes down Paul's letter. It is possible that Paul was nearly blind by this time, and so having someone write for him would be a great help to him. Bruce Hurt made this observation:

"Just as Phoebe had the great privilege of delivering the book of Romans, Tertius had the great privilege of writing it for Paul. And every believer has the privilege of exercising his or her spiritual gift(s) for the furtherance of His Kingdom and for His glory."

Paul gives his benediction in verses 24-27. He begins with his prayer that God's grace would be with the Roman believers (vs 24). He then states that God is able to establish the Christian. "Establish" means "to place something firmly and make it stable". God does this through the Gospel and the preaching of Christ. The believer does not need to wander in his spiritual life. He can be firmly planted if he knows and believes what the Bible has to say. David wrote that the man who meditates on the Word

"shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:3).

Paul then mentions "the revelation of the mystery". Colossians 1:25-27 reads,

"Whereof I am made a minister... to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory".

William Tyndale, who was burned at the stake for rejecting Catholic doctrine and for translating the New Testament into English, made these concluding comments about the book of Romans.

"Now go to, reader, and according to the order of Paul’s writing, even so do thou. First behold thyself diligently in the law of God, and see there thy just damnation. Secondarily turn thine eyes to Christ, and see there the exceeding mercy of thy most kind and loving Father. Thirdly remember that Christ made not this atonement that thou shouldest anger God again: neither cleansed He thee, that thou shouldest return (as a swine) unto thine old puddle again: but that thou shouldest be a new creature and live a new life after the will of God and not of the flesh."

What will you do with the teachings of the book of Romans?