A Christmas Benediction
Romans 16:25-27
Tony’s Overview Video
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- Read the Bible Lesson by Tony Cartledge in this month’s issue of the Nurturing Faith Journal
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- Select either the Adult or Youth teaching guide and follow the directions
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Key Text: Romans 16:25 –
“Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages . . .”
Have you ever been asked to “say the benediction”? If so, what did you do?
I was raised in a church whose bulletin listed “Benediction” at the end of each service, but it might as well have said “Closing Prayer,” because it was generally a prayer not unlike any of the other prayers in the service.
Only later did I learn that “benediction” means “blessing,” as I visited other churches in which the benediction really was designed as a blessing to the congregation. [DD]
Most people are familiar with the famous Aaronic benediction from Numbers 6:24-26: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
Many pastors memorize the Aaronic benediction and pronounce as they walk up the aisle at the end of the service. Or, they may use other popular blessings, such as a traditional Irish blessing, or write their own. [DD]
Paul and other New Testament writers often used benedictions at or near the close of their letters. Second Corinthians, for example, concludes with “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor 13:14).
The book of Romans includes a beautiful benediction at Rom. 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Surprisingly, though, the letter doesn’t stop there. It continues with an addendum that many scholars believe was added at a later time, either by Paul or by someone writing in his name.
The letter then concludes with another benediction at Rom. 16:25-27, our text for the day.
Before getting into the text, however, we might ask what a benediction at the end of Romans has to do with the Advent season. Why choose this text for the Sunday before Christmas?
The short answer is that the passage celebrates Christ as the fulfillment of promises that were revealed by God through the prophets and realized in the birth of Christ, making salvation available to all nations. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
To God, who strengthens (v. 25a)
Our text has been a subject of much scholarly debate. It appears in different places in several ancient manuscripts: after 14:23 in some, after 15:33 in another, and at both places in a few. It is found both after 14:23 and in its present position in some. Most manuscripts, though, locate the text only at 16:25-27 (for more, see “The Hardest Question” online). Whether Paul or one of his followers wrote the words, however, is immaterial. What matters is the message.
The passage is a benediction offered to God, in praise of who God is and what God has done.
It begins “Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ . . .” (v. 25a).
Paul wrote to people who were facing hard days, at times feeling oppressed by the authorities and isolated from the surrounding culture.
Does any of that sound familiar? We have also experienced troublesome days, especially in this past year. We’ve been oppressed by a disease that has taken a staggering number of lives, forced us into varying levels of isolation, upended our customary systems of school and work, and tanked much of the economy.
We’ve been rocked by racial unrest following a series of police-related killings. Many labor in a system of financial inequity gone wild. We’ve faced rising political tensions and a period of increasing authoritarianism in government.
On top of everything, Christmas is coming with the typical strain of the holidays being exacerbated by travel restrictions that may wreck our cherished holiday traditions.
It’s no surprise that reports indicate rising levels of emotional strain, a sharp increase in sales of anti-depressant medications, and record numbers of calls to suicide hot lines.
A recent Bizarro cartoon pictured a woman lying on the floor, saying “Help. I’ve fallen and I can’t think of a reason to get up.”
Can you resonate with that?
We need a reservoir of spiritual and emotional strength to endure trying times, especially those that seem to go on and on.
Paul believed God could provide what is needed: “Now to God who is able to strengthen you . . ..” Such strength, Paul said, could come through “my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ.”
Paul did not own the gospel or claim that he had the only truth. “His” gospel was the faithful preaching of Jesus Christ, who dared to enter our world and identify with humankind in all of our suffering.
As we look to the example of Jesus, we may also find strength to persevere. This does not come by blaming God for our struggles with sayings like “God never puts on us more than we can endure,” but by recognizing that whatever obstacles the world throws before us, God is in it with us, and God “is able to strengthen” us.
This is no promise that God will intervene and solve all of our problems, but Paul believed we can trust that God hears our prayers, understands our pain, and offers grace. Sometimes that is enough: to know that we are not alone, to know that we are somehow known to the core and yet loved, forgiven. The advent of Jesus reminds us of God’s benevolent care.
God not only loves us, but wants to work through us to bring about a better world. Looking to God reminds us that we have a purpose in life. As hard as it might be, that is sufficient reason for us to get up from the floor of our doldrums. Just as physical exercise builds stronger bodies, putting the love of Christ to work in our lives can lead to increasing strength.
To God, who reigns (v. 25b-26)
Paul also found strength in believing that the advent of Christ was the fulfillment of a long-promised but mysterious divine plan for the saving benefit of all peoples. Christ came, he said, “according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed” (v. 25b).
Prophets through the years had foreseen that God would intervene in history to bring deliverance, not just to the Jews, but to all nations. Paul saw this as the work of the eternal God who reigns over all, affirming that the gospel of Christ “through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith” (v. 26).
The gospel, for all its mystery, is rooted in history. Prophetic hopes stretching over centuries led to Jesus’ birth into the physical world at a very real moment in time. [DD]
God’s entry into our world calls for a response: “the obedience of faith.” Such obedience is seen in the way we live, not by checking off a list of rules or living in fear of rejection, but as redeemed people demonstrating gratitude for the empowering hope that comes through Christ.
It is grace that motivates us to live with Jesus as our guide and to worship with joy in our hearts. The words of the prophets and a baby in a manger remind us that redeeming grace is available to all who set their hope in Christ.
To God be the glory (v. 27)
It is for these reasons that Christians can bless God for the blessings they have received: a benediction in response to a benediction! Paul offers this prayer “to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever!” (v. 27).
The Greek word translated as “glory” is doxa, the root of our word “doxology,” which suggests words of glory or praise offered to God. The familiar doxology sung in some churches every Sunday offers praise to God “from whom all blessings flow.”
The word doxa can have various shades of meanings, but they all generally point to something ineffable, something beyond mortal experience and the limits of human language. Ancient kings liked speak of their “glorious splendor,” and we may speak of a victor in sports or war as “basking in glory,” but true glory belongs only to God.
It’s not surprising that Paul concludes with a reference to God’s glory, as it is a common theme in the letter. Paul frequently emphasized the importance of appreciating God’s glory, giving God the glory, and holding to the hope of one day sharing in glory. [DD]
That God’s glory should come to be fully revealed in Jesus – and that humans could share in God’s glory through Christ’s work – has always been part of God’s plan, Paul believed: “the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed.”
Is there any wonder that some of our favorite Christmas hymns speak of God’s glory? We sing of “Angels from the Realms of Glory.” The chorus of “Angels We Have Heard on High” concludes with the twice-sung “Gloria in excelsis Deo.” That’s Latin for “glory to God in the highest,” which also concludes the first verse of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” [DD]
This past year has brought troubles galore, but it has also brought us to Christmas, and to the hope of a glorious future with God.
And that’s worth singing about, at Christmas or any other time of year.
Adult Teaching Resources
Download the PDF of teaching resources for this lesson.
This PDF contains the Teaching Guide, Digging Deeper, and Hardest Question pages.
Read Scripture online: Romans 16:25-27
Youth Teaching Resources
Social Media Challenge
Throughout the season of Advent, the social media challenge will be centered around the weekly themes of Advent.
On Sunday, post a picture of three purples candle and one pink candle that are lit. On Monday, post the word “Love”. On Tuesday through Saturday, post images or phrases that reveal love.
Additional Links/Resources
Read Scripture online: Romans 16:25-27
Download the PDF for youth teaching resources using the button below. This PDF contains the Teaching Guide for this lesson:
Video
Encourage youth to check out this video ahead of the lesson.
“Irish Blessing” from Artemis Fowl
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