St. Augustine The Righteousness of God Through Faith 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law [Augustine writes “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested; that is, God imparts righteousness to the believer by the Spirit of grace without the work of the law, or without the help of the law”], although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it [Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27; Habakkuk 2:4] —22 the righteousness of God thro

No One Is Righteous Continued 19 Now we know that whatever the law [the Old Testament in general] says it speaks to those who are under the law [Jews], so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. [No one, whether Jew or Gentile, has grounds for appeal; none can claim to be guilt free before God. We need to be silent before the Lord with stopped mouths, not extolling ourselves for our good works but acknowledging we are lost sinners.

No One Is Righteous 9 What then? Are we [Paul puts himself in the mix] Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin [although the Jews have an advantage, they are not better off as they stand before God], 10 as it is written: [This is a common NT way of appealing to OT scriptures. The verses below, strung together, stress the universal reign of sin and the consequent depravity and condemnation of all mankind—Je

God's Righteousness Upheld [Paul shows that the Jews have an advantage over the Gentiles but that both need Christ’s grace.] 1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? [Paul imagines someone breaking into his argument to ask these questions. Paul has said that biology and a literal circumcision do not make one a Jew. Circumcision, however, is an advantage when one believes in the promises of God, for it is the mark of a true receiver of and beli

God's Judgment and the Law Continued 17 But if you call yourself a Jew [being proud of being a member of the chosen] and rely on the law [given to you at Sinai as a “get out of jail free card”] and boast in God [in a monopoly of monotheism] 18 and know his will [insider information] and approve what is excellent [as you set divine standards], because you are instructed from the law [and you cannot be wrong!]; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind [

God's Judgment and the Law 12 For all [the Gentiles] who have sinned without the law [the Mosaic law] will also perish without the law [the Gentiles will not be condemned by a law they did not possess but on other grounds (1:18-20) by the light and logic of creation available to them], and all who have sinned under the law [the Jews] will be judged by the law. [Jews and Gentiles, despite having and not having the law, are in the same boat of sin and death. All will be judged

God's Righteous Judgment and the Critical Moralizers 1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? [When judging others by our

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. [Paul unmasks those who agree with his statement of divine wrath on the Gentile world (1:18-32) but assume they are immune. Often we tend to be critical of others but lenient toward ourselves. We are the “O man.”] For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. [Paul’s teaching agrees with Jesus. See Matthew 7:1-5.] Having declared the depraved G

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness [Paul’s aim in this section is to show the whole of humanity is morally bankrupt, desperately in need of God’s mercy and grace.] 18 For the wrath of God is revealed [in the facts of human existence] from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness [moral decay follows theological rebellion] of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [Fallen humanity seeks to hinder and obstruct the truth of God.] 19 For what can be known a

St. Paul The Righteous Shall Live by Faith [The Gospel according to Paul begins here.] [A note on righteousness: The Hebrews understood right and wrong as if they were to be settled before a judge. They are not so much moral states as a legal status. The word “righteous” means “in the right” and the word “wicked” means “in the wrong.” God is righteous and people are righteous who are in a right relationship with him and his law. The gospel tells us how sinful men and women