📖 Passage

Romans 1:16–17
Read Romans 1:16–17 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

In Romans 1:16–17 Paul states the thesis of his entire letter. Having expressed his eagerness to preach in Rome (vv. 8–15), he now declares the essence of the message: the gospel is God’s power for salvation. This salvation is not cultural, political, or social—it is divine deliverance from sin and judgment. Importantly, Paul emphasizes its universality: it is offered “to the Jew first and also to the Greek,” showing both the continuity of God’s covenant promises and the widening scope of His mercy.

The heart of the passage lies in the phrase “the righteousness of God.” This righteousness is not human achievement but a gift from God, revealed in the gospel and received by faith. By quoting Habakkuk 2:4, Paul roots justification by faith in the Old Testament, showing continuity between the prophets and the message of Christ. These verses thus function as the theological cornerstone for the whole epistle, laying the groundwork for Paul’s argument about universal sin, justification, sanctification, and God’s covenant faithfulness.

🌿 Key Themes

• Power of the Gospel — The gospel is God’s active power to save, not mere information.
• Universality — Salvation is offered to both Jew and Gentile without distinction.
• Righteousness of God — Revealed in Christ, received by faith.
• Justification by Faith — Grounded in the OT declaration that “the just shall live by faith.”

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Romans 1:16 — The Gospel’s Power for Salvation

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation…”

• Unashamed Boldness — Paul glories in the gospel despite cultural shame.
• Divine Power — The gospel is God’s saving action, not human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18).
• Universal Scope — Salvation is offered “to the Jew first and also to the Greek,” showing God’s faithfulness to Israel and His inclusion of all nations.

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Romans 1:17 — Righteousness Revealed by Faith

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

• Righteousness of God — Not human achievement but God’s gift of right standing through Christ.
• By Faith from Start to Finish — Salvation begins, continues, and ends in faith, not works (Galatians 3:11).
• Scriptural Proof — Habakkuk 2:4 confirms that God’s people are marked by faith, not external performance.

🔍 Trusted Insight

RC Sproul emphasized that Romans 1:16–17 reveals the very heart of the gospel: the righteousness by which we are justified is not our own, but the righteousness of Christ, received by faith. He explained that this “alien righteousness” is the basis of our acceptance before God and the source of true confidence in salvation.

Summary: Justification rests on God’s righteousness in Christ, not human effort, making the gospel truly the power of God for salvation.

🧩 Review Questions

1. What does Paul mean when he says the gospel is “the power of God for salvation”?
2. Why is it significant that salvation is for both Jew and Gentile?
3. How does “the righteousness of God” differ from human righteousness?
4. What does it mean that “the just shall live by faith”? 💡 Tip: Use the **Ask a Question Bot** to explore these questions more deeply and gain additional biblical insights.

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🔍 Definitions

• Righteousness of God (dikaiosynē theou) — God’s saving righteousness revealed in Christ and given to believers by faith.
• Justification — God’s legal declaration that a sinner is righteous through faith in Christ.
• Faith (pistis) — Trust and reliance on Christ that results in salvation.

🙋 Application Questions

1. Where in your life do you feel the temptation to be “ashamed” of the gospel?
2. How does knowing salvation is God’s power, not your effort, change how you live?
3. In what ways does justification by faith give you confidence before God?

🔤 Greek Keywords

• Dikaiosynē (δικαιοσύνη) — Righteousness; God’s standard and saving gift to believers.
• Pistis (πίστις) — Faith; reliance on Christ, the channel of justification.
• Dikaios (δίκαιος) — Just/righteous; the believer declared right before God.

📚 Cross References

• Habakkuk 2:4 — The just live by faith, anticipating Paul’s doctrine.
• 1 Corinthians 1:18 — The gospel is God’s power, not human wisdom.
• Galatians 3:11 — Justification is by faith, not the law.
• Philippians 3:9 — Righteousness comes by faith in Christ, not works.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → Romans 1:18–32