Romans 1:17

Therein. That is, in the gospel.

The righteousness of God. This phrase may be understood as referring to God’s own righteousness, or to the righteousness that comes from God, or to the righteousness that is acceptable to God, or to God’s way of restoring man to righteousness. It would seem that in this summary statement of the great theme of the epistle, Paul is using the term “the righteousness of God” in a general and comprehensive sense. The gospel reveals the righteousness and perfection of God (ch. 3:26). It reveals the kind of righteousness that comes from God and how it may be received by man (Matt. 5:20; Phil. 3:9; see on Rom. 4:3-5).

Revealed. Or, “is being revealed.” The present tense indicates continuous action. The righteousness of God was especially revealed in the death of Christ (ch. 3:21-26), but the revelation is repeated in the continuous proclamation of the gospel and in the spiritual experience of each person who hears and believes the gospel (Gal. 1:16). Man could never conceive or attain to this divine righteousness by his own unaided reason and philosophy. The righteousness of God is a revelation from God.

From faith to faith. Compare “from glory to glory” (2 Cor. 3:18) and “from strength to strength” (Ps. 84:7). The righteousness of God is received by faith, and when received, results in ever-increasing faith. As faith is exercised we are able to receive more and still more of the righteousness of God until faith becomes a permanent attitude toward Him.

As it is written. Here, as in v. 2 and in many other passages in the epistle, Paul seeks to prove that the gospel message is in agreement with the teachings of the OT.

The just shall live by faith. Or, “He who by faith is righteous shall live.” The phrase “by faith” may be connected with “the just” or with “shall live.” The quotation is from Hab. 2:4. During the Chaldean invasion, Habakkuk was comforted by the assurance that the righteous person is kept safe by his trust and confidence in God (see on Hab. 2:4). A similar meaning may be seen in Paul’s use of the quotation in Rom. 1:17. The just man will not live by reliance on his own works and merit but by confidence and faith in God.

Others prefer to connect “by faith” with “the just” as more exactly expressing the theme of the epistle, righteousness by faith. Paul is trying to show that it is by faith alone that a man can be righteous before God. Only the person who by faith is righteous shall live. Taken either way the meaning is essentially the same. In either case the emphasis is on faith.