Romans 16:27

to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen. [Owing to difference in Greek and English construction, the long sentence beginning with Romans 16:25 is grammatically incomplete as rendered in English. If, however, the "to whom" of the last phrase be changed to read "to him," the sense is complete and plain. "To him that is able... to him be the glory." The whole passage, then, is an ascription of praise, with reasons for it injected in the form of a parenthesis. It is an implied prayer for the safety of the Roman church expressed in the form of a burst of confident praise to him in whom that safety lay. Of this benediction Gifford thus writes: "Comparing it with the introduction in chapter 1, we find in both the same fundamental thoughts of the Epistle: 'the power of God unto salvation' (Romans 1:16), the gospel entrusted to Paul for the Gentiles (Romans 1:5), the testimony of the prophets (Romans 1:2), the 'obedience of the faith' (Romans 1:5), the acceptance of all nations (Romans 1:5; Romans 1:14-16)--all these thoughts are here gathered up into one harmonious burst of 'wonder, love and praise.'" Thus the conclusion of the Epistle swings back to the beginning, so that the whole instruction assumes the form of the circle, symbol of its divine perfection, its unending authority.]