Romans 1:16-17

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 come into the “right” with God and how God’s personal righteousness is vindicated in the act of declaring sinful people righteous. The principal on which God brings people into the right with himself is the principle of faith, and for this understanding Old Testament authority is taken from Habakkuk 2:4b: “the righteous shall live by faith.” What follows is, more or less, an exposition of the prophet’s words.]

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel [I consider it a high honor to proclaim God’s wisdom], for it is the power [the regenerating, life-changing impact of the gospel through the Spirit to break through the bondage of sin] of God for salvation to everyone who believes [salvation is unmerited but not universally enjoyed], to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [Why the Jews first and why does Paul say this?] ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” [The righteousness of God is shown in the righteousness of Christ that is imputed to the one who believes, who has faith. As a righteous judge, God through the death of Jesus justifies, or declares righteous, sinners who come to true faith in Jesus.]