“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
Romans 11:36, KJV
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
Romans 11:36, ESV
Table of Contents
- Romans 11:36 Meaning – For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things
- Romans 11:36 Meaning – to whom be glory for ever
Romans 11:36 Meaning – For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things
This is a confirmation of the preceding opinion, for [Paul] shows it is impossible for us to be able to boast in any good of our own against God, since we ourselves are created by him out of nothing, and our very being now consists in him.
Paul hence concludes, that equity demands our existence to be directed and devoted to his glory.
How absurd would it be to refer the creatures, which the Father of all mercy hath formed and preserved, to any other purpose than the illustration of his glory!
The Greek preposition here used, I know, is sometimes improperly understood to mean in; but, since the more common acceptation of the term corresponds better with the present argument, I prefer to retain it rather than have recourse to a sense rarely used.
The whole order of nature is subverted, (such is the sum of the apostle’s argument,) unless the same God, who is the beginning of all things, be also the end.
Calvin, John – Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans tr. Francis Sibson (1834)
The absurdity of the opposite sentiment is involved in the sublime doxology with which the apostle concludes the doctrinal part of the epistle.
This is, perhaps, the most comprehensive account of the Deity, in His relation to His works, that is anywhere to be met with.
All things are of Him: He is of none; He is the origin of them all; they originate in His will; but for Him they would never have been.
All things are by Him: He creates — He sustains them all; by Him they were created, by Him they subsist.
All things are to Him: all things are intended to manifest forth His glory, and will ultimately serve this purpose; He has made all things for Himself. And it is obviously meet that it should be so. It is right that His will should be the law, His glory the end, of the universe, of which he is the creator, supporter, and proprietor.
Brown, John – Analytical exposition of the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Romans (1857)
Romans 11:36 Meaning – to whom be glory for ever
He now confidently adopts the proposition as undoubtedly proved, that God’s glory ought, on all occasions, to remain undiminished.
The opinion, if understood in a general sense, will be cold and uninteresting, and its force and emphasis depend on the circumstance of the passage, and convey the following important truth — “That our only Refuge and Tower justly claims to himself entire and unbounded dominion and power, and that nothing beside the glory of the King of kings is to be sought in the state of mankind, and of the whole world.”
The absurdity, unreasonableness, nay, folly and madness are here clearly established of all sentiments, which tend to derogate from the splendour of the glory of the Father of lights, and Fountain of all good.
Calvin, John – Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans tr. Francis Sibson (1834)
Reason 3. Confirming the former; All things are of God, as the first Author; All things are upheld by him, as the Preserver; All things tend to him, as the ultimate end.
Therefore when it seems good to him to promote his own glory, in the rejection of the Jews, or calling of the Gentiles, in the election of some, and reprobation of others, all honor and glory ought to be ascribed unto him by all men for ever.
Amen.
Dickson, David – An Exposition of All St. Paul’s Epistles (1659)
Well might the apostle add — “To whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
This is an emphatic expression of conviction that it should be so; his desire that it might be so; his firm belief that it shall be so.
In this expression of loyalty to the Sovereign of the universe, every right-hearted, intelligent being — man and angel — throughout creation, will cordially acquiesce. In this region of His dominions, we have to mourn that a world so full of His glory should be so empty of His praise.
But a happier period is predicted, when the apostle’s call shall be worthily responded to — when the rebellious spirit, which now pervades so many of His rational creatures, shall be quelled for ever — and when “every creature that is in the heavens, and on the earth, and under the earth, shall be heard saying, ‘Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.’ ‘Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are all Thy ways. Thou King of saints.’ ‘Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God; for true and righteous are His judgments.’ ‘Alleluia! the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.’”
Such is the conclusion of the doctrinal part of our epistle — a powerful expression of profound wonder, reverence, and adoration, in regard to the unsearchable ways of God in His dealings with men; and an assertion of the highest intensity respecting His sovereign right to control all things, so as to accomplish His own designs, inasmuch as all spring from Him — ‘live, and move, and have their being in Him’ — and are for His glory.” “Sovereignty in God does not imply that He does anything without the best of reasons. It only implies that these reasons are often not known to us; and that it is meet that they should be concealed from us, that we may be impressed with a sense of our humble condition, and limited faculties and information, and have room for the exercise of implicit, affectionate, child-like confidence in Him, who so well deserves to be trusted. If our hearts are ever tempted to rise up against any of His dispensations, let us bow them down to the dust — at once silencing and satisfying them with the humbling, consoling, animating, glorious truth, that ‘of God, and through Him, and for Him, are all things.’ To Him, then, be the glory, for ever and ever.” — (Slightly altered from Moses Stuart.)
Brown, John – Analytical exposition of the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Romans (1857)
