Romans 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.
Romans 16:20
This verse blends triumph and blessing: God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The image evokes Genesis’ promise of blessing to Abraham’s offspring and the picture of conquest over evil through Christ. “Shortly” signals the expectation of God’s timely victory, sustaining believers amid present suffering. Paul’s blessing—“the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you”—recurs at the close of his letter, grounding their strength in divine grace. The verse ties cosmic conflict to practical, everyday faith: the victory over Satan is mediated through the people of God who walk in obedience and trust in God’s peace. The context of Romans 16 includes greetings to several coworkers and households; the verse reminds them that their faith participates in the larger battle against spiritual opposition.
Key themes include the defeat of evil, eschatological hope, and the efficacy of Christ’s suffering and resurrection. The imagery of Satan being crushed under believers’ feet signals Christ’s ultimate victory and the ongoing leverage of the gospel in breaking spiritual bondage. It also underscores the role of peace—God’s shalom—as the arena in which spiritual warfare is waged. The blessing of grace reinforces that victory is not through human effort alone but through God’s empowering presence. The verse thus connects cosmic redemption with local faith communities.
In today’s life, this verse invites confidence in God’s ultimate victory over evil while remaining vigilant in everyday spiritual warfare. Practice spiritual disciplines—prayer, Scripture, community—in the confidence that God will bring about good and thwart deceptive schemes. When facing anxiety, fear, or moral compromise, cling to Christ’s authority and the promise of peace. As you serve, imagine you are participating in a larger, ongoing victory over evil, not by physical force but by faithful witness, charity, and integrity. Encourage others with the reminder that God’s power is at work in ordinary people to overcome spiritual opposition.
Cross-References: Genesis 3:15; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 6:10–12; 1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14–15