Power of God, Part 2

 Hey Everyone.

We will continue our examination of Romans 1:16-17.  In my previous post we looked at the first two of four clauses in these verses and today we will ook at the other two.  Here is a reminder of the passage: 

16  I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of all of those who have faith, first to the Jews, and then to the Greeks, 17 for in the Gospel the righteousness of God has been revealed to the faithful from the beginning to the end, for as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”

We have seen how discusses the how he was not ashamed of the Gospel, because the Gospel is the power of God for salvation.  Here is our look at the other two:  

“In the Gospel the righteousness of God has been revealed to the faithful.”

Romans was actually written before any of the Gospels had been written, so when Paul talks about the gospel, what is he referring to?  He is talking about the ‘good news’ message of Jesus, the Cross and God’s grace.  Now, we have just seen in verse 16 that this message is the power of God for the salvation of those who have faith.  The clause that we are examining now elaborates on this power.  It tells us that God’s righteousness has been revealed, where it is revealed and to whom it has been revealed.  

So, we see that this gospel message reveals God’s righteousness.  The question becomes then, “What does Paul mean by “the righteousness of God’? Some possibilities (Moo, 70-71.): 

• Righteousness as an attribute of God.  
• Righteousness as a status God gives to the faithful.  
• Righteousness as an activity of God. 

Two of these possibilities involve who God is and what He does, while the other possibility involves what God confers upon His people, He makes us righteous. Any of these, or all of these could be what Paul means here.  All of these can be revealed in the message of God’s grace. The context, “it is the power of God for salvation”, could apply to all three. We don't really have to choose one.  All three work and have a valid meaning. The important part of this is that this righteousness is revealed to the faithful.  

Paul has been battling against works-oriented righteousness.  The message of the gospel is grace through faith, not obedience.  It is our faith, not works, that allows us to see God’s righteousness. 

In the Greek Paul uses the phrase  ἐκ πίστεως  εἰς πίστιν  (ek pisteōs eis pistin).  A literal translation would be ‘out of faith into faith.”  John Harvey explains that the two prepositions indicate a starting point and an ending point. Like ‘first to last,’ or ‘beginning to end.” (Harvey, 30.) We should to our faith throughout our Christian walk. 

“It is written, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’”

Paul supports his statement about the gospel revealing the righteousness of God by quoting Habakkuk 2:4.  In Habakkuk, it is God who says this to Habakkuk, teaching the prophet that it is indeed God who is in control, and if you trust Him, you are considered righteous. Habakkuk learned to trust God even when the crops fail and there are no cattle in the stalls.  (Hab. 3:17-18.)  

Paul had quoted from Habakkuk 2:4 in Galatians, as well. In Gal. 3:10-11, he says, “For those who base their righteousness on works of the Law are under a curse.  It is written, “Those who fail to obey all that is written in the book of the law are under a curse.” 11 It is obvious that the Law does not make anyone righteous before God, instead, “the righteous will live by faith.” (Harvey, 30-31.) 

Paul is making the point in Galatians that righteousness before God is not based on our performance or obedience.  In fact, trusting in our own obedience is a curse.  Obedience does not make us righteous, faith does.

Here, in Romans, Paul is saying that if we are faithful, we will see God’s righteousness, and that our righteousness has always been based on faith, from the beginning to the end. Thomas Schreiner says, “Like Abraham, the people of God are summoned to trust in Yahweh when circumstances aspire against such trust. Thus the fundamental call of Habakkuk is to trust in the Lord.”  (Schreiner, 80-81.) As he did in Galatians, Paul is presenting a message that a right relationship with God is gained through faith and not through obedience to the law. 

Here is a quick summation of Romans 1:16-17:

• Paul takes ‘pride’ in the Gospel, as he says he is unashamed of it.  (v. 16a) 
• The reason for Paul’s ‘pride’ in the Gospel is that it ‘contains or mediates’ the power of God for our salvation for all who believe.  (v. 16b.) 
• The Gospel brings salvation because in it we can see the righteousness of God. A righteousness based on faith. (v. 17a.)
• Finally, the connection between righteous and faith is backed up with scripture, as Paul quotes Hab. 2:4.  (v. 17b.)

       John Harvey, Exegetical Guide to the Greek: Romans, B&H Academic, Brentwood, Tennesssee, 2017. 

        Thomas Scheiner, Romans, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Baker Academic. 1998.