Romans 1:17
What does Romans 1:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 1:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 1:17 means
In the gospel, a righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. This is God’s own righteous way of making sinners right with him, granted through faith and resulting in a life characterized by faith. The citation “the righteous shall live by faith” affirms that true life—right standing and ongoing vitality—comes by trusting God, not by human works. Faith is both the starting point and the path. God remains just and becomes the justifier by providing righteousness as a gift in Christ. This sets the foundation for the letter’s argument about justification and the believer’s new life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For in it there is the revelation of the righteousness of God from faith to faith: as it is said in the holy Writings, The man who does righteousness will be living by his faith.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For the righteousness of God in it is revealed from faith to faith, according as it hath been written, `And the righteous one by faith shall live,'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for righteousness ofGod is revealed therein, on the principle of faith, to faith: according as it is written, But the just shall live by faith.
Context
Paired with verse 16, verse 17 states the gospel’s content: the revelation of God’s righteousness received by faith. With the positive thesis in place, verse 18 shifts sharply to the negative reality of God’s wrath, explaining why such a righteousness is needed. The rest of the chapter (vv.18–32) will expose humanity’s guilt under sin, preparing for Paul’s later explanation of justification and salvation in chapters 3–5.
v.16For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
v.17This passage
v.18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 3:11
Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;
- Hebrews 11:6
and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
- Romans 3:21
But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
- John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
- Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.
- Romans 9:30
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
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