For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul isn't just saying God is the source of everything; he's highlighting God as the sustainer and ultimate purpose of all existence. This isn't about a cyclical return to God, but a declaration that everything, from its origin to its final goal, is meant to reveal God's own glory.
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a profound contemplation of God's justice and mercy in saving both Jews and Gentiles, Paul erupts in praise. He’s just argued that salvation isn't earned but is entirely from God, leading to this grand declaration about God's sovereignty over all creation. This verse serves as a powerful conclusion to the theological section of Romans, shifting from complex arguments to pure worship.
Ever wondered where everything truly comes from? This verse points to a breathtaking origin for all existence.
Paul grounds the entire created order and salvation history in God. The phrase 'from him' (or 'out of Him') declares that God is the primal cause, the ultimate source from which all being flows. This isn't a pantheistic idea that everything is God, but that His will is the sovereign origin of all life, force, conscience, will, and thought. Nothing exists apart from His creative decree and power.
Creation didn't just happen once; it's constantly upheld. Discover God's active role in every moment.
The 'through him' part of the verse reveals God's ongoing work. He doesn't just initiate; He incessantly sustains, upholds, and governs all things. This isn't just a passive existence, but an active, mediating agency that keeps everything in motion and order. Every breath, every thought, every event is held in His hand. Even in salvation, He works through believers, empowering them to persevere.
What's the grand finale for everything? This verse reveals the magnificent end goal of all creation.
Finally, 'to him' signifies that all things ultimately serve God's purposes and His glory. He is the final cause, the ultimate end for which everything exists. The entire cosmos, in its grand design and every detail, is meant to manifest His character, His wisdom, His power, and His love. His own glory is the highest and noblest purpose. This is why the verse concludes with a doxology: 'To him be glory forever. Amen.' It’s an affirmation that all of reality ultimately points back to and finds its meaning in God.
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Understand the original words
doxa · Greek Noun
The manifestation of God's majesty, excellence, and holiness. In a biblical context, it refers to the weight or worth of God's character revealed to His creation, eliciting praise and adoration.
amēn · Hebrew Interjection
A concluding affirmation expressing agreement, desire, or confirmation of truth. It is a declaration of confidence in the faithfulness and reliability of God's word.
This passage echoes the same concept, stating there is 'one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and for whom we exist. And one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.'
Colossians 1:16This verse speaks of creation in relation to the Son, saying 'for by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth... all things were created through him and for him.'
Proverbs 16:4This verse highlights God's sovereignty over all things, including those He created for His purpose: 'The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.'
Nehemiah 9:6This prayer acknowledges God as the sole creator, emphasizing that all existence originates from Him and serves His will: 'You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them...'
Revelation 4:11This passage describes the elders falling before the throne and declaring God's worthiness, echoing the sentiment of Romans 11:36: 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'
ellicottRomans 11:36: "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
(36) Of him, and through him, and to him. —All things proceed from God, all things are made or wrought by Him, and all things exist for His glory, and to carry out His ends. It is a mistake to see in this, as some of the older commentators have done, an allusion to the Trinity. This can hardly be. The subject of the whole verse appears to be God the Father, and the prominent idea is rather…
cambridgeRomans 11:36: "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
36 . of him ] Lit. out of Him; not in the Pantheistic sense, as if all things were evolved from God—phases of God; but in the Christian sense, that His will is the ultimate source of all being, all life and force, all conscience, will, and thought. through him ] by means of Him . He is not the Source only, but the Means. He did not only originate all things, but incessantly sustains and ove…
Paul isn't just saying God is the source of everything; he's highlighting God as the sustainer and ultimate purpose of all existence. This isn't about a cyclical return to God, but a declaration that everything, from its origin to its final goal, is meant to reveal God's own glory.
Following a profound contemplation of God's justice and mercy in saving both Jews and Gentiles, Paul erupts in praise. He’s just argued that salvation isn't earned but is entirely from God, leading to this grand declaration about God's sovereignty over all creation. This verse serves as a powerful conclusion to the theological section of Romans, shifting from complex arguments to pure worship.
Following a profound contemplation of God's justice and mercy in saving both Jews and Gentiles, Paul erupts in praise. He’s just argued that salvation isn't earned but is entirely from God, leading to this grand declaration about God's sovereignty over all creation. This verse serves as a powerful conclusion to the theological section of Romans, shifting from complex arguments to pure worship.
"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." — Paul isn't just saying God is the source of everything; he's highlighting God as the sustainer and ultimate purpose of all existence. This isn't about a cyclical return to God, but a declaration…
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Last reviewed October 2026