Romans 1:17

The righteousness of God] RV 'a righteousness of God.' A state of righteousness, or acceptance with God, to which man could not attain by his own efforts, but which God bestows upon him of His free grace.

From faith to faith] RV 'by faith unto faith,' i.e. given, on condition of faith, to those who have faith: cp. Romans 3:22. Just] RV 'righteous.' The quotation is from Habakkuk 2:4, which referred to preservation from the calamities of the Chaldean invasion. The principle is that it is faith which gains God's approval.

18-32. The Apostle has briefly stated God's offer of righteousness in the Christian message. He now proceeds to show that all men have failed to attain acceptance with God by other means. First he speaks of the Gentiles. They lie under God's wrath on account of their unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). They might have had a knowledge of God (Romans 1:19), but have turned away to idolatry (Romans 1:21), and are sunk, in consequence, in moral corruption (Romans 1:24).

Paraphrase. '(18) The need of such a method of salvation is evident when we consider how mankind has always suppressed the truth within and lived in wickedness. For them wrath, not righteousness, is revealed. (19) For instance, God has made Himself known to the Gentiles; (20) for His power and divinity are so clearly impressed upon the visible creation that they cannot plead ignorance. (21) They had a revelation of God, but instead of worshipping Him aright they became so involved in useless speculations about His nature, that they lost the sense of truth and right. (22) Their conceit led to such idolatrous folly (23), that they regarded an image of man or beast as a fitting representation of the majesty of God. (24-27) Therefore God gave them over to the degradation which was the result of their apostasy. (28-31) Their rejection of the true idea of God was followed, as a penal consequence, by depravity and every kind of sin. (32) So great is their wickedness, that although they know the guilt of such sins, they not only commit them, but approve of them in others.'