If anyone thought Paul had not visited Rome because he doubted the power of his gospel to work in that sophisticated environment, the apostle now clarified his reason. These verses conclude the epistolary introduction and transition into the body of the letter by stating Paul's theme.
1:16 Paul's third basic attitude toward the gospel now comes out. Not only did he feel obligated (v. 14) and eager (v. 15) to proclaim it, but he also felt unashamed to do so. The reason was that the gospel message has tremendous power. The Greek word translated "power"is dunamis, from which the word "dynamite"comes. Consequently some interpreters have concluded that Paul was speaking of the explosive radical way in which the gospel produces change in individual lives and even in history. However the context shows that the apostle was thinking of its intrinsic ability to affect change.
"The late evangelist Dwight L. Moody commented that the gospel is like a lion. All the preacher has to do is to open the door of the cage and get out of the way!"30
God has the power to deliver physically (Exod. 14:13) and spiritually (Ps. 51:12). The basic outcome of salvation is soundness or wholeness. Salvation restores people to what they cannot experience because of sin. Salvation is an umbrella term; it covers all aspects of deliverance. The terms justification, redemption, reconciliation, sanctification, and glorification describe different aspects of salvation.
"The inherent glory of the message of the gospel, as God's life-giving message to a dying world, so filled Paul's soul, that like his blessed Master, he "despised the shame."So, pray God, may all of us!"31
The gospel does not announce that everyone is safe because of what Jesus Christ has done, which is universalism. The gospel is only effective in those who believe it.32Believe what? Believe the good news. What is the good news? It is the news that Jesus is the Christ (i.e., the Messiah whom God promised to send) and that He has done everything necessary to save us (cf. 1 John 2:2; 5:1). Note that Paul mentioned no other condition besides believing the good news in this crucial verse (cf. 4:5). He said nothing about our having to do anything in addition such as undergoing baptism, joining a church, pledging commitment, etc. The issue is believing good news and trusting Christ. Either a person does or does not do so.33
The gospel has a special relevance to the Jew. The priority of Jewish evangelism was historical; it is not essential. That is, because God purposed to use Israel as His primary instrument in bringing blessing to the world (Exod. 19:5-6) He gave the Jews first opportunity to receive His Son. This was true during Jesus' earthly ministry (John 1:1) and following His ascension (Acts 1:8; 3:26). Paul also followed this pattern in his ministry (Acts 13:45-46; 28:25, 28). Notwithstanding the Great Commission makes no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Jesus Christ has charged Christians with taking the gospel to everyone (Matt. 28:19-20). He has identified no group as that to which we must give priority in evangelism.
1:17 In this verse Paul explained what he meant when he said that when a person believes the gospel he or she is saved (v. 16). What makes the gospel powerful is its content. The salvation that God has provided and offers is in keeping with His righteous character (cf. 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21).
What did Paul mean by "the righteousness of God?"34It could be an attribute of God, either His rectitude or His faithfulness. It could be a status that God gives to people. Or it could be an activity of God, specifically His saving action.
"For Paul, as in the OT, righteousness of God' is a relational concept. Bringing together the aspects of activity and status, we can define it as the act by which God brings people into right relationship with himself."35
The gospel makes the righteousness of God manifest.
What does "from faith to faith"(NASB) mean? Was Paul describing the way God has revealed His righteousness or how people should receive it? The position of this phrase in the sentence favors the first option. The idea might be that God's righteousness comes from one person who exercises faith to another person who exercises faith. Still, if that is what Paul intended, he should have used the Greek preposition apothat views "from"as a point of departure. Instead he used ekthat indicates the basis of something (cf. 3:16; 5:1; Gal. 2:16). Probably the phrase refers to how people receive God's righteousness. The idea seems to be that faith is the method whereby we receive salvation whatever aspect of salvation may be in view. The NIV interpretation is probably correct: "by faith from first to last."We might say that every aspect of God's salvation comes to us only by faith. That is true whether we are speaking of justification (salvation from the penalty of sin), sanctification (salvation from the power of sin), or glorification (salvation from the presence of sin). Trusting God results in full salvation.
The words of Habakkuk 2:4 support Paul's statement. Faith is the vehicle that brings the righteousness of God to people. The person who believes the good news that the righteous God has proclaimed becomes righteous himself or herself. The Pharisees, one of which Paul had been, taught that righteousness came through keeping the Mosaic Law scrupulously (cf. Matt. 5:20). The gospel Paul proclaimed, on the other hand, was in harmony with what Habakkuk had revealed (cf. v. 2).
Verses 16-17 are the key verses in Romans because they state the theme of the revelation that follows. Paul's message was the gospel. He felt no shame declaring it but was eager to proclaim it because it was a message that can deliver everyone who believes it. It is a message of how a righteous God makes people righteous righteously. The theme of the gospel is the righteousness of God.36
"Here we have the textof the whole Epistle of Romans: First, the words the gospel'--so dear to Paul, as will appear. Next, the universal saving power of this gospel is asserted. Then, the secret of the gospel's power--the revelation of God's righteousness on the principle of faith. Finally, the accord of all this with the Old Testament Scriptures: The righteous shall live by faith.'"37
This first section of Romans (1:1-17) introduces the subject of this treatise by presenting the gospel as a message that harmonizes with Old Testament revelation. It is a message that concerns Jesus, the Messiah and Lord. It is a powerful message since it has the power to save anyone who believes it.
