17 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 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here the apostle produces an argument, to prove that the gospel is the power of God to salvation; Because by it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: That is, the righteousness of the Mediator which is called the righteousness of God, because it is of his providing, and of his approving and accepting, and for the sake of which God pardons our unrighteousness and receives us graciously. Through the gospel, this righteousness is revealed to beget faith in men, even such a faith as goes from faith to faith; that is, it grows and increases from one degree and measure to another: And thus the apostle falls upon his main proposition which is the scope and design of this epistle; namely, that there is no possible way for the justification of a sinner, either Jew or Gentile, but by faith in the Mediator.
Learn hence, That the righteousness by which we are justified in the sight of God is discovered to us in the gospel, to be only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the appointed Mediator between God and us; The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: The apostles proves this by a citation out of the prophet Habakkuk; The just shall live by faith; that is, As the pious Jews in the time of the Babylonian captivity did live and find comfort in their troubles, by faith and affiance in God; in the like manner the apostle shows that he that is evangelically just or religious shall live a life of grace on earth and glory in heaven by faith in Christ; that is, depending upon the merits and righteousness of the Mediator in the way of holiness and strict obedience to his commands.
Learn hence, That a justified man lives a more holy, useful, and excellent life than other men; his life is from God, his life is with God: yea, he lives the life of God himself.
2. That whatever life a justified man lives, (in a more excellent manner than other men) he lives that life by virtue of his faith, The just shall live by faith.