Romans 9:30

What shall? Having emphasized the side of divine authority and justice in the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles, Paul now turns to emphasize the side of human responsibility.

The Gentiles. Rather, “Gentiles.” Some Gentiles, not all, have attained to righteousness. The conclusion that Paul draws from his discussion so far is this: God’s promise has not failed, but while Gentiles have obtained righteousness, Jews have failed to find it, because they have sought for it in the wrong way. This naturally raises the question, Why? (verse 32). And that introduces the next point in Paul’s discussion — the failure and guilt of the Jews. From this point on through chapter 10:21 Paul discusses this subject.

Followed. Greek dioko, “to pursue.”

Attained. Greek katalambano, “to overtake,” “to obtain.” Both dioko (see above under “followed”) and katalambano are used in connection with the racecourse (cf. “runneth”; see on Rom. 9:16; cf. 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:12). Paul is saying that Gentiles, who were not even striving to obtain righteousness, have grasped it. He does not mean by this that there was no desire or longing for righteousness among the Gentiles, but that, as contrasted with the legalistic Jews, they were not ostensibly seeking for it. Yet when salvation was offered to them in the gospel, they welcomed it. Compare Paul’s earlier description of Gentiles fulfilling the requirements of the law, even though they did not have any revealed code such as the Jews were privileged to possess (see on Rom. 2:14).

Of faith. This definition of the kind of righteousness that the Gentiles have obtained explains the apparent paradox of their having attained to righteousness though they were not striving for it.