Romans 9:30-31 - Exposition

What shall we say then! That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, following after a law of righteousness, attained not to (or, arrived not at, so as to distinguish ἔφθασε εἰς , used here, from κατέλαβε , previously used of the Gentiles. It expresses the idea of failing to reach what is being pursued) a law of righteousness . The Gentiles are here said to have attained righteousness ( i.e. the righteousness of God, appropriated by faith, as previously explained); but Israel to have pursued, without reaching it, a law (not, as in the Authorized Version, the Law ) of righteousness; because in the Law of Hoses they sought a justifying law, which in itself it could not be. The idea is resumed in Romans 10:3 . The concluding δικαιοσύνης in verse 31, which may have been introduced into the text to make the meaning plain, is ill supported; but the sense requires it to be understood. So far we have a state-merit of the facts of the case. The reason follows.