Got this in an email today:
Quote:
Bro. Eric and J.D,
I have begun a study through the book of Romans. I am using an NIV Greek to English Concordance, the NIV Study Bible, Willmington Guide to the Bible, Matthew Henry Commentary and of Course the NKJV Bible. Romans 1:16-17 is the theme of the Epistle according the the NIV Study Bible. These two verses always kinda bugged me in the way they were written in that I didn't understand why (1) Paul states that he is not ashamed of the gospel, the good news he is living for, totally. And (2) in verse 17 "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith." I never quite understood the meaning of faith to faith. After the word study, I have come to this understanding; (1) Paul believed that the gospel would never bring disgrace upon him (the greek word epaischynomai lit. means disgrace upon). (2) faith to faith could mean faith toward or into faith, meaning one believers (Pauls) faith to another believers faith or Jesus' example of Faith toward our faith.
I am bouncing this off both of you to make sure that I am not way off base and I would greatly appreciate your input because I greatly respect your understanding of Scripture.
Thanks,
My friend
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My pastor replied with an exerpt from one of Piper's sermons, so did I - then I added my take - see below for Piper then mine - does my explanation hold water?
Quote:
whew! I love Piper!
Check this out:
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, Paul says in Romans 1:16-17,
because in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. I
believe this refers to the gift of God's imputed righteousness that we receive
by faith. Paul says that the gospel has power because this is what it reveals.
This is what I want the Maninka people of Guinea to hear and understand and
believe. And the Uzbeks and the Kazaks and the Sukumu and the Somali and your children and your parents and neighbors and colleagues.
Does Paul Mean "Our Faith Is Our Righteousness?
So here is my answer to the question. No, when Paul says "Faith is credited to us as righteousness," he does not mean that our faith is our righteousness, or any part of our justifying righteousness. He means that faith is what unites us with Christ and all that God is for us in him. When God sees faith in Christ,
he sees union with Christ. And when he sees union with Christ, he sees the
righteousness of Christ as our righteousness. So faith connects us with Christ
who is our righteousness and, in that sense, faith is counted as righteousness.
Faith sees and savors all that God is for us in Christ, especially his
righteousness. That's what faith does.
Faith and the Imputation of Righteousness :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library |
So - that being said - here is my take - reading in context:
Romans 1 (NASB)
11For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that
you may be established;
12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of
us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.
13I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come
to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among
you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and
to the foolish.
15So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in
Rome.
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is
written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
Note how Paul first introduces the faith theme in v12 with "both yours and
mine", then v13 "among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles" then
"both to Greeks and to barbarians" and "both to the wise and to the
foolish"...see the theme?
He then carrys the theme into v 16 "to the Jew first and also to the Greek" so
when he says "in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from
faith to faith", I think he saying that there is an explicit harmony among all
believers of every type that reveals the righteousness of God imputed to His
children through Christ. He then appropriately concludes with - "BUT THE
RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." All those He has imparted faith to through Christ's righteousness shall live - that is
true life, life eternal!
As far as the "I am not ashamed of the gospel" - I am cool with your take!
Paul is confident that he will not be disgraced - he says the same thing in 2
Timothy 1:10-12.
10but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
12For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Blessings, dear brother!
panta dokimazete!
-JD
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