For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, &c.— The term Δικαιοσυνη Θεου plainly signifies here, and in several other passages of this epistle, not the essential righteousness of God's nature, but the manner of becoming righteous which God has appointed and exhibited in the Gospel (compare chap. 3:
21, 22 Romans 10:3.Philippians 3:9. Matthew 6:33.); and the phrase may perhaps have the same sense in many passages of the Old Testament. See Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 51:5-6; Isaiah 51:8; Isaiah 56:1. In this sense it seems better to render the original by justification; for righteousness, both in the sense and sound, is too remote from justified. In those places where it signifies moral rectitude in general, the word righteousness properly answers the sense of the Greek word. The justification of God revealed, in this verse, is plainly in opposition to the wrath of God revealed in the next, and therefore justification must be understood in a sense opposite to wrath. Some read this clause, the justification of God by faith is revealed to faith; but Vorstius, and after him Mr. Locke, seem rightly to judge the sense to be, "that the righteousness of God is all through from one end to the other, by faith; for the Gospel salvation is indeed from first to last of faith on our part." By faith we are admitted into our present state of grace and favour, chap. Romans 5:2.; by faith we continue in it, chap. Romans 11:20.; by faith we duly improve it, Jude, Romans 1:20.; and the faithful are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, 1 Peter 1:5. But then a progression or increase is at the same time implied; for this mode of speaking is applied to things measurable orimprobable, and denotes a succession, accession, or improvement; εκ, from, signifying the point whence the progress or increase begins; and εις, to, signifying the point to which it tends. Thus, first, in things measurable, Exodus 26:28. The bar shall reach from end to end. Secondly, in things improveable, Psalms 84:7. They go from strength to strength, that is, with a still greater degree of strength. Jeremiah 9:3. They proceed from evil to evil; that is to say, grow worse and worse. 2 Corinthians 3:18. From glory to glory; that is, from one degree of glory to another: and so here the salvation which God has provided the Gospel is from faith to faith, or wholly of faith on our part, by way of progress and improvement from the first faith to a still higher degree; signifying the advances that we ought to make in this grand principle of our religion. And this agrees very well with the Apostle's quotation, Habakkuk 2:4 the just shall live by his faith;—that is, he who believes, and improves his faith into a constant principle of righteousness, and through faith continues to work righteousness, shall live;—But if ye draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition,—having cast off their first faith,—but of them that believe, by a progressive faith, unto the saving of the soul, Hebrews 10:38-39. Mr. Locke thinks, that the design of the quotation from Habakkuk is to prove, that, whoever are justified either before, without, or under the law of Moses, or under the Gospel, are justified not by works, but by faith alone. See Galatians 3:11.