“For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, ‘The righteous by faith will live'” (Romans 1:17 ESV).
Scholars and commentators have wrestled with the precise meaning of the term “faith to faith” here in Romans 1:17. For instance, this portion of Scripture may relate to God’s faithfulness in respect to our faith, or it may refer to ever-increasing degrees of faith.
However, it seems likely that this simple but challenging phrase has a different meaning: a life that reflects the good news of salvation through faith in Christ is one that produces an attitude of faith “from start to finish.”
Several translations of this passage take this interpretive approach…
- “…it is through faith from beginning to end” (GNB).
- “…[it] begins and ends with faith” (GW).
- “…[it] is by faith from first to last” (NIV).
The Biblical Scriptures repeatedly highlight the importance of faith in God, but what does “faith” really entail? To answer that question, we can turn to the following definition of faith offered by one Bible dictionary: “[Faith is a] belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one’s life.” (1) However, the New Testament book of Hebrews provides us with the best definition of faith…
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]” (Hebrews 11:1-3 AMP).
In light of these definitions, we can say that genuine, Biblical faith reflects the firm conviction that God is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do. It also encompasses the confident expectation that God will act faithfully to fulfill His promises, even when external appearances seem to suggest otherwise. This kind of faith forms a key characteristic of a life that honors God, for as we’re told here in Romans 1:17, “…’The person who has God’s approval will live by faith'” (GW).
This means faith is more than just a personal attribute; it also embodies a behavioral mindset that should define those who genuinely seek to follow Christ. In the words of one source, “…[T]o say ‘the righteous live by faith’ is to say that the righteous live their lives in loyalty to God, inspired by a personal trust in His promises. Righteous people live a life that is characterized in an abiding trust in the goodness of God despite their situation.” (2)
Image Attribution : Faith Written On Rock, CC0 Public Domain, Circe Denyer, via Public Domain Pictures.net
(1) “Faith.” Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
(2) Being Faithful (2004, August 31). Ligonier Ministries. https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/being-faithful