Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 1:17

17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith : as it is written, The [illegible: 1 letter]ust shall live by Faith .

It will give Light to this whole Epistle, to Explain what is here meant by the Righteousness of God. Some do thereby understand the whole Doctrine of Salvation, and eternal Life, which is reveal'd in the Gospel; and they make it the same with the Faith of God, chap. 3.3. and with the Truth of God, chap. 3.7. Others, by the Righteousness of God, do understand, That Righteousness whereby a Man is justified, or stands Just and Righteous in the Sight of God: And 'tis call'd the Righteousness of God, to distinguish it from our own Righteousness, chap. 10.3. And because it is Appointed, Approv'd, and Accepted by Him; it being such, as He himself can find no fault with: Further, it is call'd the Righteousness of God, because it was perform'd by Him, who is God as well as Man, and imputed unto us: Hence He is said to be made Righteousness unto us, and We are said to be made the Righteousness of God in Him; we having His Righteousness▪ as He had our Sins, viz. by Imputation. This is often call'd the Righteousness of Faith, because, by Faith it is apprehended and apply'd. And again, it is call'd the Law of Righteousness, chap. 9.31. in Opposition to that Law of Righteousness, whereby the unbelieving Iews sought to be justified.

The Law of God discovers no such way of justifying a Sinner; nor is it taught by Reason or Philosophy: The Gospel only makes a Revelation of it; which occasioned the Apostles glorying in it.

This Apostle seems to delight in such Repetitions, and there is an Elegancy in them, vid. chap. 6.19. 2 Cor. 2.16. 2 Cor. 3.18. The words are variously interpreted; from the Faith of the old Testament, to the Faith of the New: So that no Person ever was or shall be Justified in any other way: Or, from a lesser Faith to a greater; not noting two Faiths, but one and the same Faith increasing to Perfection. He saith, not from Faith to Works, or from Works to Faith; but from Faith to Faith, i. e. only by Faith. The word (to be) must be understood, q. d. The Gospel Reveals the Righteousness of God, to be from Faith to Faith. The Beginning, the Continuance, the Accomplishment of our Justification is wholly absolv'd by Faith.

Some refer these words (by Faith) to the Subject of this Proposition, the Just. And thus they render it; the Just by Faith shall Live; and so read, The foregoing Proposition is the better prov'd thereby. There is some difficulty to understand the fitness of this Testimony to prove the Conclusion in hand: For 'tis Evident, That the Prophet Habakkuk, in whom these words are found, doth speak of a temporal Preservation: And, What is that to eternal Life? Answ. The Babylonian Captivity, figur'd out our spiritual Bondage under Sin and Satan; and Deliverance from that Calamity, did shadow forth our Deliverance from Hell, to be procur'd by Christ: Compare Isa. 40.2.3, 4. with Mat. 3.3. Again, general Sentences applyed to particular Cases, are not thereby restrained to those Particulars; but still retain the Generality of their Nature, vid. Mat. 19.6. Again, one and the same Faith apprehends, and gives us Interest in all the Promises of God: And as by it we live in temporal Dangers; so by it we are freed from eternal Destruction.

Marginal references: Chap. 3.21.; Hab. 2.4. Gal. 3.11. Heb. 10.38.