Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul calls God "the God of peace" right before promising Satan's defeat, highlighting that peace isn't just an absence of conflict, but God's active power bringing victory over division and evil. This victory, symbolized by crushing Satan underfoot, is presented not as a distant event, but as something happening "shortly," directly involving believers.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Genesis 3:15", "connection": "This verse is a direct echo of the protoevangelium, the first promise of redemption given after the Fall, showing God's long-standing plan to crush the serpent's power through the seed of the woman." }, { "reference": "1 John 3:8", "connection": "This passage explicitly states that Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil, providing theological context for how the God of peace can bring about Satan's defeat." }, { "reference": "Philippians 2:9-11", "connection": "This passage describes Jesus' exaltation and the universal acknowledgment of His lordship, illustrating the ultimate triumph over evil that is promised in Romans 16:20." }, { "reference": "1 Peter 5:8-9", "connection": "This passage parallels the call to resist the devil with the assurance of God's strength and the promise that he will eventually be subdued, mirroring the encouragement given to the Roman believers." }, { "reference": "Revelation 20:10", "connection": "This verse vividly portrays the final, eternal defeat of Satan, offering a glimpse into the ultimate fulfillment of the promise that he will be crushed under foot." } ] }
In the face of division and conflict, Paul offers a powerful reminder about who God is and what He will do.
Paul calls God "the God of peace." This isn't just a nice title; it's deeply connected to the situation in the Roman church, which was struggling with internal strife and false teachings.
A God of Peace in Conflict
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The verse speaks of crushing Satan 'shortly.' What does this 'soon' really mean in the context of an ongoing spiritual battle?
Paul's assurance that Satan will be crushed 'shortly' needs careful understanding. It's not a promise that all spiritual warfare will end immediately, but a confident declaration of impending and ultimate victory.
Understanding 'Shortly'
After a powerful promise of victory, Paul concludes with a simple yet profound benediction. Why is this 'grace' so crucial?
The final words, 'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,' are more than a polite closing; they are the essential enablement for living out the Christian life and experiencing God's promises.
The Power of Grace
Understand the original words
Satanas · Greek Noun
The adversary of God and the accuser of the brethren; the primary spiritual enemy whose ultimate defeat is guaranteed by the victory of Christ.
charis · Greek Noun
The unmerited favor and divine enablement of God, provided through the work of Jesus Christ, which sustains the believer in their walk with God.
Paul concludes his letter by assuring the Roman believers that the ultimate victory over Satan is assured, echoing the very first promise of redemption in Genesis. This promise offered profound encouragement against the real-world spiritual opposition and potential persecution they faced in the Roman Empire.
c. 1440 BC
Protoevangelium (First Gospel Promise)
In Genesis 3:15, God promises that the offspring of the woman will ultimately crush the head of the serpent (Satan). This is the foundational promise of victory over evil.
c. 50 AD
Paul's Ministry Begins
The Apostle Paul begins his extensive missionary journeys, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire and establishing churches.
c. 57 AD— this verse
Writing of Romans
Paul writes his letter to the church in Rome, likely from Corinth, intending to visit them soon. The letter addresses theological issues and practical application of the faith.
c. 60-64 AD
Persecution Under Nero
Christians in Rome began to face increasing suspicion and persecution, notably during the reign of Emperor Nero, who blamed them for the Great Fire of Rome.
c. 67-68 AD
Martyrdom of Paul
The Apostle Paul is believed to have been martyred in Rome, likely beheaded during Nero's persecution, a significant event for the early church.
This verse directly echoes the 'proto-Gospel' promise made after the fall, where God foretells that the woman's offspring will ultimately crush the serpent's head, establishing a foundational prophecy of the victory over evil.
1 John 3:8This passage clarifies the purpose of Jesus's coming – 'to destroy the works of the devil' – directly aligning with the promise in Romans of Satan's eventual crushing.
1 Corinthians 15:24-26Here, Paul discusses Christ's ultimate victory over all enemies, including death itself, which foreshadows and supports the assurance given in Romans that evil will be definitively defeated.
Colossians 2:15This verse speaks of Christ disarming and triumphing over the spiritual powers, providing a New Testament perspective on how Satan's authority is already being broken.
jfbRomans 16:20: "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."
- And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly—The apostle encourages the Romans to persevere in resisting the wiles of the devil with the assurance that, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, they are "shortly" to receive their discharge, and have the satisfaction of "putting their feet upon the neck" of that formidable enemy—symbol familiar, p…
gillRomans 16:20: "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen."
And the God of peace,.... See Gill on Romans 15:33 ; shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Some read this by way of wish or prayer, "may the God of peace bruise"; so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, and the Alexandrian copy; but others as ours, as a promise, or as expressive of the apostle's faith and hope in this matter; and which he ment…
Paul calls God "the God of peace" right before promising Satan's defeat, highlighting that peace isn't just an absence of conflict, but God's active power bringing victory over division and evil. This victory, symbolized by crushing Satan underfoot, is presented not as a distant event, but as something happening "shortly," directly involving believers.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Genesis 3:15", "connection": "This verse is a direct echo of the protoevangelium, the first promise of redemption given after the Fall, showing God's long-standing plan to crush the serpent's power through the seed of the woman." }, { "reference": "1 John 3:8", "connection": "This passage explicitly states that Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil, providing theological context for how the God of peace can bring about Satan's defeat." }, { "reference": "Philippians 2:9-11", "connection": "This passage describes Jesus' exaltation and the universal acknowledgment of His lordship, illustrating the ultimate triumph over evil that is promised in Romans 16:20." }, { "reference": "1 Peter 5:8-9", "connection": "This passage parallels the call to resist the devil with the assurance of God's strength and the promise that he will eventually be subdued, mirroring the encouragement given to the Roman believers." }, { "reference": "Revelation 20:10", "connection": "This verse vividly portrays the final, eternal defeat of Satan, offering a glimpse into the ultimate fulfillment of the promise that he will be crushed under foot." } ] }
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Genesis 3:15", "connection": "This verse is a direct echo of the protoevangelium, the first promise of redemption given after the Fall, showing God's long-standing plan to crush the serpent's power through the seed of the woman." }, { "reference": "1 John 3:8", "connection": "This passage explicitly states that Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil, providing theological context for how the God of peace can bring about Satan's defeat." }, { "reference": "Philippians 2:9-11", "connection": "This passage describes Jesus' exaltation and the universal acknowledgment of His lordship, illustrating the ultimate triumph over evil that is promised in Romans 16:20." }, { "reference": "1 Peter 5:8-9", "connection": "This passage parallels the call to resist the devil with the assurance of God's strength and the promise that he will eventually be subdued, mirroring the encouragement given to the Roman believers." }, { "reference": "Revelation 20:10", "connection": "This verse vividly portrays the final, eternal defeat of Satan, offering a glimpse into the ultimate fulfillment of the promise that he will be crushed under foot." } ] }
"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." — Paul calls God "the God of peace" right before promising Satan's defeat, highlighting that peace isn't just an absence of conflict, but God's active power bringing victory over division and evil. Thi…
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