Romans 15:33 is an interesting break in Paul’s great letter to the culturally diverse brethren who fellowshipped in the city of Rome (1:7). It is so abrupt that it marks a clear line between the main teaching component of the letter (1:14-15:32) and the salutations and quick words Paul sends to specific house churches in Rome (16:1-23).

Romans 15 marks the apostle Paul’s desire for continued mission work to Spain (15:28), where Christ has not been proclaimed (15:20-21; Isa 52:15). His belief in the power and influence of the prayers of the saints to be incorporated in the providence of God is clear from his pleas to his brethren to pray for him (15:30-32).

Moreover, Paul anticipates considerable opposition to his upcoming ministry to the “poor saints” in Jerusalem (15:26). Recalling that he had already been hindered to come to Rome before (15:22), he enlists his Roman brethren to pray on his behalf so that he make it to Rome (15:28) on his way to Spain, the “very ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Paul anticipates a joyful and refreshing environment to accompany his visit to Rome (15:32).

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)

Romans 15:33 finalizes, then, Paul’s great desire to evangelize the world, cooperate with the Roman brethren in ministry, and to enjoy the power of fellowship. He closes this section of the letter with a prayer of blessing:

“May the God of peace be among all of you, Amen.” (Romans 15:33)

(1) Paul calls upon God. The text has no verb but it is supplied since it is a call for God to be among His people. In this prayer of blessing (i.e, a benediction), Paul calls upon their creator (1:19), their justifier (4:25-26), their savior (10:13-17), and their peacemaker (1:7, 5:1).

(2) Paul seeks for Peace. “The God of peace” speaks to character of God (i.e, “the Peaceful God”). This is a hebraic way of emphasizing God’s attribute of peace and harmony. Here, Paul alludes to the need the church has for harmony to overcome the internal turmoil it experienced.

(3) Paul desires that God blesses their fellowship. The focus of Paul’s prayer towards the Christians in Rome, is that God be among all of them (“among all of you”). There is no partiality in his prayer. This prayer calls attention to both our individual relationship with God, and His presence within the community of His people.

(4) Paul stamps his spiritual desire. “Amen” is a Hebrew phrase used to express a variety of ideas. As the counterpart to God’s “it shall be,” amen means, “let it be so” (Vine, et al., Expository Dictionary, 2:25). Most commonly, it is to express agreement to the content of a public prayer (1 Cor 14:16). The prayer ends with this call to agreement.

Are there troubles in your Christian life? Are there hinderances to things you want to do for Christ? Are there internal problems among us? Paul’s answer: Invoke the presence of God. We must include God in our private lives, and our church life, to become who God’s wants us to be. In turn we will become the church He intended us to be. So doing we will invite peace and harmony because the God of peace is among us. So, can I get an “Amen”?

Hymn: Praise the Lord