Romans 1:17

the righteousness of God A phrase occurring elsewhere seven times in this Epistle (Romans 3:5; Romans 3:21-22; Romans 3:25-26; Romans 10:3 twice), once in the Gospels (Matthew 6:33), once in 2 Cor. (Romans 5:21), once in St James (Romans 1:20), and once in 2 Pet. (Romans 1:1). As regards Pauline usage, it is plain that Romans 3 is the locus criticusfor its leading meaning, which meaning we may expect to find here. Romans 3:26 appears to supply the key to this meaning: the "righteousness of God" is something which is reached, or received, "through faith in Jesus Christ;" and it is "declared" in such a way as to shew Him "just, yet justifying." On the whole it is most consistent with most passages to explain it of the "righteousness imputed by God" to the believer. (See esp. cch. 3 and 4 for explanations of imputation.) It is "God'srighteousness," as being provided by Him and availing with Him. ("Die Gerechtigkeit die vor Gott gilt," "the righteousness which avails with God," is Luther's paraphrase.)

It is objected that the word rendered "righteousness" denotes a real moral state. But this is only partially true. It quite as much tends to denote what makes a man clear in the eye of the law, satisfactory to justice;and just such is the effect, according to this Epistle, of the Work of Christ accepted by faith. With proper caution we may thus say that "righteousness," in this and similar phrases, is often a practicalequivalent for "Justification." In Matthew 6:33 the reference at least maybe as above; in 2 Corinthians 5:21 we have another but cognate reference, viz. to the aspect of the justifiedbefore God; in 2 Peter 1:1 and James 1:20, the meaning seems to be quite different, though equally proper to the Greek words, viz. "the will of the righteous God." For variations in this Epistle see notes on successive passages.

revealed from faith to faith Q. d. "is unfolded, and displays faith, and only faith, as its secret, at each disclosure." (1) The initial step, the entranceto justification, is faith: (2) The lifeof the justified is maintainedby faith: faith is the starting-point and the course. "Is revealed:" a present tense in the Gr.: is revealing. The idea is of a perpetually recurring process: "to each fresh discoverer it is revealed." So of the opposite"revelation," Romans 1:18.

as it is written The formula of quotation, sanctioned by the Saviour Himself in His own all-significant use of Scripture at the Temptation. "It is written; it is written again." (Matthew 4:4; Matthew 4:7; Matthew 4:10.)

This is the first direct quotation in this Epistle. In the 16 Chapter s the O. T. is directlyquoted about 60 distinct times. See Introd. iv.

The original is in Habakkuk 2:4, and is lit. rendered, "And [the] just man, by his faith shall he live." The context there defines the meaning of faith to be trust, confidence in another, as opposed to self-confidence. Such humility of trust marks the "just" man, the man right in God's sight;and thereby he stands possessed of "life," i.e., peace and security before God. This brief but profound sentence is here taken by the Apostle as the text of his great statement of Justification. So again in Galatians 3:11. "By faith:" lit. out of faith; i.e. in consequence of it, after it, as the conditionon which "life" is given.