Paul blessed believers in Rome with the following benediction (Romans 16:25-27 NET):
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages, but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever! Amen.[1]
The Greek word translated is able above was δυναμένῳ, a form of δύναμαι. Paul told the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:32 NET):
And now I entrust you[2] to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able (δυναμένῳ) to build[3] you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
I hear τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ (NET: the message of his grace) as an another appositive phrase effectively, equivalent to εὐαγγέλιον (NET: gospel) and τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (NET: the proclamation of Jesus Christ). Here the message of his grace is able to build you up (οἰκοδομῆσαι, a form of οἰκοδομέω). But I assume this is true because of him who is able to strengthen (στηρίξαι, a form of στηρίζω) you: Except the LORD build (Septuagint [Table2 below]: οἰκοδομήσῃ, another form of οἰκοδομέω) the house, they labour in vain that build (οἰκοδομοῦντες, another form of οἰκοδομέω) it.[4] Anything other than being led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:1-17) is the work of actors, hypocrites.
Paul wrote to believers in Ephesus (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NET):
Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able (δυναμένῳ) to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and[5] in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, Paul wrote believers in Thessalonica, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened (στηρίξαι) in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.[6] Here hearts…strengthened in holiness is linked to the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love. This love is ἀγάπῃ, the ἀγάπη which is the fulfillment of the law[7] (1 Corinthians 13).
Paul continued this theme in his second letter (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 NET):
But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose[8] you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. He called[9] you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,[10] who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen (στηρίξαι) you[11] in every good thing you do or say.
Paul made the mystery (μυστηρίου, a form of μυστήριον) that had been kept secret for long ages explicit in his letter to believers in Colossae; namely, Christ in you (Colossians 1:25-29 NET):
I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God—given to me for you—in order to complete (πληρῶσαι, a form of πληρόω; KJV: to fulfil) the word of God, that is, the mystery (μυστήριον) that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now[12] been revealed to his saints. God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches[13] of this mystery (μυστηρίου, a form of μυστήριον) among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.[14] Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.
Paul didn’t labor to complete or fulfil the word of God in his own strength, but according to Christ’s power that powerfully works in me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for[15] you, he continued, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met[16] me face to face[17] (Colossians 2:2, 3 NET Table).
My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
In Paul’s mind—I have been crucified (Romans 6:3-14) with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me[18]—was not a unique situation exclusively for him alone. It was the gospel he struggled to complete in all who believe (Ephesians 3:14-21 NET):
For this reason I kneel before the Father (Table), from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he will grant you to be strengthened (κραταιωθῆναι) with power through his Spirit in the inner person (Table), that Christ will dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you will be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you will be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
And so ὑπακοὴν πίστεως (NET: obedience of faith), faith’s[19] obedience as opposed to works’ obedience, is nothng other than the fruit of the Spirit: God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,[20] springing up to eternal life.[21]
Tables comparing Psalm 127:1 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing Psalm 127:1 (126:1) in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow. Following those are tables comparing Romans 16:27; Acts 20:32; Ephesians 3:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14; 2:16, 17; Colossians 1:26-28 and 2:1 in the NET and KJV.
| Psalm 127:1 (KJV) | ||
| Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. | A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. | A song of ascents; by Solomon. If the Lord does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain. |
| ᾠδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν τῷ Σαλωμων ἐὰν μὴ κύριος οἰκοδομήσῃ οἶκον εἰς μάτην ἐκοπίασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες αὐτόν ἐὰν μὴ κύριος φυλάξῃ πόλιν εἰς μάτην ἠγρύπνησεν ὁ φυλάσσων | ᾿ῼδὴ τῶν ἀναβαθμῶν. – ΕΑΝ μὴ Κύριος οἰκοδομήσῃ οἶκον, εἰς μάτην ἐκοπίασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες· ἐὰν μὴ Κύριος φυλάξῃ πόλιν, εἰς μάτην ἠγρύπνησεν ὁ φυλάσσων |
| An Ode of the Steps. Pertaining to Salomon. Unless the Lord builds a house, those who build it labored in vain. Unless the Lord guards a city, the guard kept awake in vain. | [A Song of Degrees.] Except the Lord build the house, they that build labour in vain: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman watches in vain. |
|
Romans 16:27 (KJV) |
|
| to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever! Amen. | To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| μόνῳ σοφῷ θεῷ, διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, |ᾧ| ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν.] | μονω σοφω θεω δια ιησου χριστου ω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην [προς ρωμαιους εγραφη απο κορινθου δια φοιβης της διακονου της εν κεγχρεαις εκκλησιας] | μονω σοφω θεω δια ιησου χριστου ω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας αμην |
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Acts 20:32 (KJV) |
|
| And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. | And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| Καὶ τὰ νῦν παρατίθεμαι ὑμᾶς τῷ |θεῷ| καὶ τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, τῷ δυναμένῳ οἰκοδομῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι τὴν κληρονομίαν ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πᾶσιν | και τανυν παρατιθεμαι υμας αδελφοι τω θεω και τω λογω της χαριτος αυτου τω δυναμενω εποικοδομησαι και δουναι υμιν κληρονομιαν εν τοις ηγιασμενοις πασιν | και τα νυν παρατιθεμαι υμας αδελφοι τω θεω και τω λογω της χαριτος αυτου τω δυναμενω εποικοδομησαι και δουναι υμιν κληρονομιαν εν τοις ηγιασμενοις πασιν |
|
Ephesians 3:21 (KJV) |
|
| to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. | Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς πάσας τὰς γενεὰς τοῦ αἰῶνος τῶν αἰώνων, ἀμήν | αυτω η δοξα εν τη εκκλησια εν χριστω ιησου εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων αμην | αυτω η δοξα εν τη εκκλησια εν χριστω ιησου εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων αμην |
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2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14 (KJV) |
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| But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. | But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| ἡμεῖς δὲ ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ κυρίου, ὅτι εἵλατο ὑμᾶς ὁ θεὸς |ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς| εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας | ημεις δε οφειλομεν ευχαριστειν τω θεω παντοτε περι υμων αδελφοι ηγαπημενοι υπο κυριου οτι ειλετο υμας ο θεος απ αρχης εις σωτηριαν εν αγιασμω πνευματος και πιστει αληθειας | ημεις δε οφειλομεν ευχαριστειν τω θεω παντοτε περι υμων αδελφοι ηγαπημενοι υπο κυριου οτι ειλετο υμας ο θεος απ αρχης εις σωτηριαν εν αγιασμω πνευματος και πιστει αληθειας |
| He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| εἰς ὃ [καὶ] ἐκάλεσεν ὑμᾶς διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἡμῶν εἰς περιποίησιν δόξης τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ | εις ο εκαλεσεν υμας δια του ευαγγελιου ημων εις περιποιησιν δοξης του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου | εις ο εκαλεσεν υμας δια του ευαγγελιου ημων εις περιποιησιν δοξης του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου |
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2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 (KJV) |
|
| Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, | Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ [ὁ] θεὸς ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι | αυτος δε ο κυριος ημων ιησους χριστος και ο θεος και πατηρ ημων ο αγαπησας ημας και δους παρακλησιν αιωνιαν και ελπιδα αγαθην εν χαριτι | αυτος δε ο κυριος ημων ιησους χριστος και ο θεος και πατηρ ημων ο αγαπησας ημας και δους παρακλησιν αιωνιαν και ελπιδα αγαθην εν χαριτι |
| encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say. | Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| παρακαλέσαι ὑμῶν τὰς καρδίας καὶ στηρίξαι ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ ἀγαθῷ | παρακαλεσαι υμων τας καρδιας και στηριξαι υμας εν παντι λογω και εργω αγαθω | παρακαλεσαι υμων τας καρδιας και στηριξαι υμας εν παντι λογω και εργω αγαθω |
|
Colossians 1:26-28 (KJV) |
|
| that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. | Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| τὸ μυστήριον τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν γενεῶν – νῦν δὲ ἐφανερώθη τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ | το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου | το μυστηριον το αποκεκρυμμενον απο των αιωνων και απο των γενεων νυνι δε εφανερωθη τοις αγιοις αυτου |
| God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. | 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: |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| οἷς ἠθέλησεν ὁ θεὸς γνωρίσαι τί τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς δόξης τοῦ μυστηρίου τούτου ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ὅ ἐστιν Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν, ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς δόξης | οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τις ο πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης | οις ηθελησεν ο θεος γνωρισαι τι το πλουτος της δοξης του μυστηριου τουτου εν τοις εθνεσιν ος εστιν χριστος εν υμιν η ελπις της δοξης |
| We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ. | Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| ὃν ἡμεῖς καταγγέλλομεν νουθετοῦντες πάντα ἄνθρωπον καὶ διδάσκοντες πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐν πάσῃ σοφίᾳ, ἵνα παραστήσωμεν πάντα ἄνθρωπον τέλειον ἐν Χριστῷ | ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω ιησου | ον ημεις καταγγελλομεν νουθετουντες παντα ανθρωπον και διδασκοντες παντα ανθρωπον εν παση σοφια ινα παραστησωμεν παντα ανθρωπον τελειον εν χριστω ιησου |
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Colossians 2:1 (KJV) |
|
| For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face. | For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| Θέλω γὰρ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα ἔχω ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ καὶ ὅσοι οὐχ ἑόρακαν τὸ πρόσωπον μου ἐν σαρκί | θελω γαρ υμας ειδεναι ηλικον αγωνα εχω περι υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και οσοι ουχ εωρακασιν το προσωπον μου εν σαρκι | θελω γαρ υμας ειδεναι ηλικον αγωνα εχω περι υμων και των εν λαοδικεια και οσοι ουχ εωρακασιν το προσωπον μου εν σαρκι |
[1] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had προς ρωμαιους εγραφη απο κορινθου δια φοιβης της διακονου της εν κεγχρεαις εκκλησιας (Written to the Romanes from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe seruant of the Church at Cenchrea [King James Bible 1611]) here. The NET Parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
[2] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αδελφοι (KJV: brethren) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οἰκοδομῆσαι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εποικοδομησαι.
[5] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
[6] 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 13 (NET)
[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εἵλατο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειλετο (KJV: hath…chosen).
[9] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ preceding called. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.
[10] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article ὁ preceding Father, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ (KJV: even).
[11] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υμας here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
[12] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had νῦν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had νυνι.
[13] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τὸ preceding riches, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had ο.
[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησου (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.
[15] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑπὲρ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had περι.
[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἑόρακαν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εωρακασιν (KJV: have…seen).
[19] The Greek word πίστεως is a genitive form of πίστις.
[20] Galatians 5:22, 23a (NET) Table
[21] John 4:14b (NET) Table