Romans 1:17

In this verse Paul explained what he meant when he said that when a person believes the gospel he or she is saved (Romans 1:16). What makes the gospel powerful is its content. The salvation that God has provided and offers is in keeping with His righteous character (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

What did Paul mean by "the righteousness of God?" With the exception of 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul used this phrase only in Romans, where it appears eight times (Romans 1:17; Romans 3:5; Romans 3:21-22; Romans 3:25-26; Romans 10:3 [twice]). It could be an attribute of God, either His rectitude or His faithfulness. It could be a status that God gives to people. Or it could be an activity of God, specifically, His saving action.

"For Paul, as in the OT, ’righteousness of God’ is a relational concept. Bringing together the aspects of activity and status, we can define it as the act by which God brings people into right relationship with himself." [Note: Moo, p. 74. See pages 70-74 for the reasons this is the best conclusion. He also wrote a good excursus on "’Righteousness’ Language in Paul," pp. 79-90.]

The gospel makes the righteousness of God manifest.

What does "from faith to faith" (NASB) mean? Was Paul describing the way God has revealed His righteousness or how people should receive it? The position of this phrase in the sentence favors the first option. The idea might be that God’s righteousness comes from one person who exercises faith to another person who exercises faith. Still, if that is what Paul intended, he should have used the Greek preposition apo that views "from" as a point of departure. Instead he used ek that indicates the basis of something (cf. Romans 3:16; Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16). Probably the phrase refers to how people receive God’s righteousness. The idea seems to be that faith is the method whereby we receive salvation whatever aspect of salvation may be in view and whomever we may be. The NIV interpretation is probably correct: "by faith from first to last." We might say that every aspect of God’s salvation comes to us only by faith. That is true whether we are speaking of justification (past salvation from the penalty of sin), practical sanctification (present salvation from the power of sin), or glorification (future salvation from the presence of sin). Trusting God results in full salvation.

The words of Habakkuk 2:4 support Paul’s statement. Faith is the vehicle that brings the righteousness of God to people. The person who believes the good news that the righteous God has proclaimed becomes righteous himself or herself. The Pharisees, one of which Paul had been, taught that righteousness came through keeping the Mosaic Law scrupulously (cf. Matthew 5:20). The gospel Paul proclaimed, on the other hand, was in harmony with what Habakkuk had revealed (cf. Romans 1:2). Many students of Romans believe that Habakkuk 2:4 is the "text" of Romans, and what follows is exposition of that Scripture text. Thomas suggested the following outline: Romans 1:1 to Romans 3:20: the righteous; Romans 3:21 to Romans 4:25: by faith; and Romans 5:1 to Romans 16:26: shall live. [Note: Thomas, p. 63.]

Romans 1:16-17 are the key verses in Romans because they state the theme of the revelation that follows. Paul’s message was the gospel. He felt no shame declaring it but was eager to proclaim it because it was a message that can deliver everyone who believes it. It is a message of how a righteous God makes people righteous righteously. The theme of the gospel is the righteousness of God, and the theme of Romans is the gospel. [Note: Moo, pp. 22-30, Witmer, p. 437.]

"Here we have the text of the whole Epistle of Romans: First, the words ’the gospel’-so dear to Paul, as will appear. Next, the universal saving power of this gospel is asserted. Then, the secret of the gospel’s power-the revelation of God’s righteousness on the principle of faith. Finally, the accord of all this with the Old Testament Scriptures: ’The righteous shall live by faith.’" [Note: Newell, p. 18.]

This first section of Romans (Romans 1:1-17) introduces the subject of this epistolary treatise by presenting the gospel as a message that harmonizes with Old Testament revelation. It is a message that concerns Jesus, the Messiah and Lord. It is a powerful message since it has the power to save anyone who believes it.