Romans 1:17 kjv
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:17 nkjv
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Romans 1:17 niv
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed?a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 1:17 esv
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
Romans 1:17 nlt
This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."
Romans 1 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hab 2:4 | "Behold, as for the proud one... the righteous will live by his faith." | Original prophecy quoted in Rom 1:17. |
| Gal 3:11 | "Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, 'The righteous man shall live by faith.'" | Echoes Rom 1:17's Habakkuk quote for justification. |
| Heb 10:38 | "But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him." | Emphasizes endurance and perseverance in faith. |
| Rom 3:21-22 | "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested... even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ..." | Clarifies God's righteousness as distinct from Law. |
| Rom 3:25-26 | "...God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith... to demonstrate His righteousness..." | Shows how God's righteousness is demonstrated. |
| Phil 3:9 | "...and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from Law, but that which is through faith in Christ..." | Paul's desire for a righteousness by faith, not works. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." | Explains how believers obtain God's righteousness. |
| Rom 5:1 | "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." | The result of receiving God's righteousness by faith. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works..." | Salvation is through faith, not human effort. |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." | Fundamental verse on faith for eternal life. |
| Rom 4:3 | "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'" | Abraham as an example of justification by faith. |
| Gen 15:6 | "Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." | Original account of Abraham's faith credited as righteousness. |
| Psa 98:2 | "The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations." | OT foreshadowing of God revealing His righteousness. |
| Isa 45:24-25 | "Surely in the LORD are righteousness and strength... In the LORD all the offspring of Israel will be justified..." | God as the source of righteousness and justification. |
| Rom 10:4 | "For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes." | Christ as the culmination of the Law, leading to faith-righteousness. |
| Gal 2:16 | "Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus..." | Explicitly contrasts faith with works of the Law for justification. |
| 2 Tim 3:15 | "...the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." | Emphasizes scripture's role in guiding to salvation by faith. |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." | Underscores faith as essential for a relationship with God. |
| Rom 15:8 | "For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers..." | God's faithfulness in revealing salvation (implied context). |
| Titus 3:5-7 | "...He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy... justified by His grace..." | Salvation is not by deeds, but by grace through His mercy. |
| Psa 40:10 | "I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation..." | Speaks of the public declaration of God's saving righteousness. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." | Prioritizing God's righteousness in daily life. |
Romans 1 verses
Romans 1 17 Meaning
Romans 1:17 declares that the righteousness of God is unveiled within the gospel message. This righteousness, which is both an attribute of God and a saving state He graciously provides, is made available and grasped through faith, and this faith continues to grow throughout a believer's walk. The verse substantiates this truth by quoting the prophet Habakkuk, affirming that righteous living is inherently rooted in and sustained by faith.
Romans 1 17 Context
Romans 1:17 serves as the pivotal theological thesis statement for Paul's letter to the Romans, immediately following his declaration that he is "not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom 1:16). This verse acts as the foundational explanation for why the gospel is powerful for salvation: because it is the arena where God's unique righteousness is revealed. It sets the stage for Paul's subsequent exposition in Chapters 1-3, where he establishes humanity's universal sinfulness, demonstrating the need for a divine righteousness outside of human effort. The verse thus announces the core solution—justification by faith—which is then meticulously expounded throughout the rest of the letter, beginning with how sin condemns all, leading to the necessity and nature of God's provision.
Romans 1 17 Word analysis
- For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction links the verse back to the previous one (Rom 1:16). It signifies an explanation or reason. The gospel is God's power for salvation because in it the righteousness of God is revealed.
- in it (ἐν αὐτῷ - en autō): Refers directly to "the gospel" (εὐαγγέλιον - euangelion) mentioned in Rom 1:16. The gospel itself is the medium, the sphere, or the context within which this revelation occurs. It's not just a message about righteousness but the place where God's saving righteousness actively becomes known and applied.
- the righteousness of God (δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ - dikaiosynē Theou): A cornerstone concept. This phrase holds a dual meaning. Primarily, it refers to God's attribute—His justice, holiness, and covenant faithfulness. Secondarily, and crucially in Romans, it denotes the saving righteousness that God graciously provides to humanity. It is His saving action that sets things right, both declaring and making people righteous, which is a state of right relationship with Him, achieved apart from the Mosaic Law. It speaks of God's just act of making ungodly people just in His sight through Christ.
- is revealed (ἀποκαλύπτεται - apokalyptetai): A key theological term meaning "unveiled" or "made manifest." The verb is in the present tense, indicating a continuous, ongoing revelation, not a one-time event. It implies something previously hidden or dimly perceived in the Old Testament is now being clearly laid bare through the Gospel. This active revelation signifies God's initiative in unveiling His saving plan.
- from faith to faith (ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν - ek pisteōs eis pistin): This much-debated phrase clarifies the nature and progression of the revelation of God's righteousness. Possible interpretations, all pointing to faith's primacy:
- From beginning to end by faith: The entire process of gaining and living in God's righteousness is based purely on faith, not on works or merit. It starts with faith and continues through faith.
- From God's faithfulness to human faith: God's faithfulness initiates the covenant, leading to humanity's faithful response.
- From one degree of faith to another: Emphasizing the growth and deepening of faith in the believer's life.
- Through faith, continually through faith: Stressing that faith is the exclusive means by which God's righteousness is apprehended and lived out. This is the most consistent with Paul's overall argument in Romans.
- as it is written (καθὼς γέγραπται - kathōs gegraptai): A common formula used by Paul to emphasize scriptural authority and divine endorsement for his teaching. It connects his argument directly to the inspired Old Testament, showing continuity in God's plan.
- The righteous (ὁ δίκαιος - ho dikaios): This refers to a person who stands in a right relationship with God, particularly through the righteousness provided by God through faith.
- shall live (ζήσεται - zēsetai): Derived from Habakkuk 2:4, it signifies not merely existence but true life—spiritual life, eternal life, a flourishing life in fellowship with God. This life is intrinsically tied to faith.
- by faith (ἐκ πίστεως - ek pisteōs): This prepositional phrase indicates the basis or source of this life. It is "out of faith," meaning faith is the necessary condition and continuous source for both receiving God's righteousness and living a life pleasing to God.
Word Group Analysis:
- "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed": This phrase announces the primary content and method of the gospel. The gospel is powerful (Rom 1:16) because it makes visible God's method of setting things right, not by human effort or performance, but by divine initiative. The passive voice ("is revealed") highlights God as the active agent of this unveiling.
- "from faith to faith, as it is written": This immediately explains the means by which this righteousness is grasped and upheld—exclusively by faith. The inclusion of the scriptural quote establishes a timeless truth from the prophets, showing that this saving principle of faith is not new but eternally true to God's character.
Romans 1 17 Bonus section
Romans 1:17 encapsulates the theological core that led Martin Luther to his "tower experience" and subsequent break from Roman Catholicism. His wrestling with the "righteousness of God" transformed from understanding it as God's punitive justice that condemns sinners, to grasping it as the gracious righteousness that God freely gives to believers. This shift, profoundly influenced by Romans 1:17 and related passages, birthed the doctrine of sola fide (faith alone) and became the material principle of the Reformation. The phrase "from faith to faith" can also imply a journey—the righteousness revealed calls for a continuous journey of increasing faith, moving deeper into trust and reliance upon Christ, transforming not just status but life. This principle challenges any system that relies on human achievement, emphasizing God's complete initiative and provision through the Gospel.
Romans 1 17 Commentary
Romans 1:17 is a cornerstone of Christian theology, presenting the core theme of Paul's magnum opus: the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel. This righteousness is not merely an abstract attribute of God, but His active, saving power to put people in a right standing with Himself. It’s God's faithful justice, demonstrating both His standard and His provision for those who fall short. The revolutionary aspect is its accessibility: "from faith to faith," signifying that from beginning to end, this right standing is obtained and sustained solely by believing, apart from any human merit or performance of the Law. It emphasizes an active, enduring trust in God and His gospel, a continual walk rooted in dependence on Him. Paul anchors this profound truth in Habakkuk 2:4, reinforcing that the pathway to true life and divine favor has always been, and forever will be, "by faith." This verse shattered medieval reliance on works for salvation and became the clarion call of the Protestant Reformation. It defines the path for fallen humanity to find true life in reconciliation with God.