ROM 1:17 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) [ref]It explains how God makes us guiltless—by faith leading to more faith—as it’s been written: Godly people will live by faith.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is written, “But the righteous one will live by faith.”

UST This is true because whenever people proclaim the good news, they reveal how God makes people righteous, which is entirely through trusting in the Messiah. This is what the prophet Habakkuk meant when he wrote in the Scriptures, “But the person whom God makes righteous will live forever by trusting in God.”

BSB For [the gospel] reveals [the] righteousness of God [that comes] by faith [from start] to [finish],[fn] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[fn]

1:17 Literally For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith

1:17 Habakkuk 2:4

BLB For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it has been written: "And the righteous will live by faith."

AICNT For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”[fn]

1:17, Habakkuk 2:4

OEB For in it there is a revelation of the divine righteousness resulting from faith and leading on to faith; as scripture says – “Through faith the righteous will find life.”

WEBBE For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET 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.”

LSV For the righteousness of God in it is revealed from faith to faith, according as it has been written: “And the righteous one will live by faith,”

FBV For in the good news God is revealed as good and right,[fn] trustworthy from start to finish. As Scripture says, “Those who are right with God live by trusting him.”[fn]

1:17 Literally, “God's righteousness.”

1:17 The actual words in the original are, “the right (one) from trust will live.” The quotation is from Habakkuk 2:4.

TCNT For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”

T4T By means of this good message God reveals how he erases the record of people’s sins (OR, declares people no longer guilty for having sinned); and his doing this is entirely because [IDM] they trust in Christ. This is confirmed by what a prophet long ago wrote that God said, “Those ◄whose record of sin I have erased/whom I have declared no longer guilty for sin► because they trust in me will live forever.”

LEB For the righteousness of God is revealed in it from faith to faith, just as it is written, “But the one who is righteous by faith will live.”[fn]

1:17 Or “But the one who is righteous will live by faith” (differing only in word order)

BBE For in it there is the revelation of the righteousness of God from faith to faith: as it is said in the holy Writings, The man who does righteousness will be living by his faith.

Moff God's righteousness is revealed in it by faith and for faith — as it is written, Now by faith shall the righteous live.

Wymth For in the Good News a righteousness which comes from God is being revealed, depending on faith and tending to produce faith; as the Scripture has it, "The righteous man shall live by faith."

ASV For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.

DRA For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith.

YLT For the righteousness of God in it is revealed from faith to faith, according as it hath been written, 'And the righteous one by faith shall live,'

Drby for righteousness of [fn]God is revealed therein, on the principle of faith, to faith: according as it is written, But the just shall live by faith.

1.17 Elohim

RV For therein is revealed a righteousness of God by faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.

SLT For the justice of God in it is revealed from faith to faith: as has been written, And the just shall live by faith.

Wbstr For in this is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

KJB-1769 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

KJB-1611 For therein is the righteousnesse of God reueiled from faith to faith: as it is written, The iust shall liue by faith.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps For by it is the ryghteousnes of God opened fro fayth to fayth. As it is written: the iuste shall lyue by fayth.
(For by it is the righteousness of God opened from faith to faith. As it is written: the just shall live by faith.)

Gnva For by it the righteousnesse of God is reueiled from faith to faith: as it is written, The iust shall liue by faith.
(For by it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. )

Cvdl for in it ye righteousnes that is of value before God, is opened, which cometh out of faith i to faith.
(for in it ye/you_all righteousness that is of value before God, is opened, which cometh/comes out of faith 1 to faith.)

TNT For by it the rightewesnes which cometh of god is opened from fayth to fayth. As it is written: The iust shall live by fayth.
(For by it the rightewesnes which cometh/comes of god is opened from faith to faith. As it is written: The just shall live by faith. )

Wycl For the riytwisnesse of God is schewid in it, of feith in to feith,
(For the righteousness of God is showed in it, of faith in to faith,)

Luth sintemal darinnen offenbaret wird die Gerechtigkeit, die vor GOtt gilt, welche kommt aus Glauben in Glauben; wie denn geschrieben stehet: Der Gerechte wird seines Glaubens leben.
(since therein revealed becomes the justice, the before/in_front_of God gilt, which comes out_of faith in faith; as/like because/than written stands: The righteous_(one) becomes his faiths life.)

ClVg Justitia enim Dei in eo revelatur ex fide in fidem: sicut scriptum est: Justus autem ex fide vivit.[fn]
(Justice because of_God in/into/on by_him revelatur from with_faith in/into/on faith: like written it_is: Just however from with_faith lives. )

1.17 Justitia enim Dei. AMBR. Est quæ gratis justificat impium per fidem sine operibus legis, etc., usque ad qui negant hunc esse Christum quem promisit Deus. Revelatur. AUG. Aggreditur gentiles secundum priorem statum, etc., usque ad quod inflati per se in idola ceciderunt. Ex fide, etc., AMBR. Dei promittentis, in fidem hominis qui credit ei, etc., usque ad in fidem rerum et speciei. AUG. Fides est qua creduntur ea quæ non videntur, etc., usque ad in fidem rerum qua credita obtinebimus. Sicut scriptum est. In Abacuc cap. 2. ita est: Justus autem ex sua fide vivet. Sed hoc et talia plura testimonia quæ ponit, ab Hebraicæ veritatis translatione, qua nunc utimur, videntur discordare: quia aliquando sumit a LXX interpretibus, aliquando sicut loquens eodem spiritu quo prophetæ sensum sumit tantummodo, suis utens verbis suaque dispositione.

1.17 Justice because of_God. AMBR. It_is which for_free justificat impious/ungodly through faith without works law, etc., until to who/which they_deny this_one to_be Christ/Messiah which promised God. Revelatur. AUG. Aggreditur Gentiles after/second the_former state, etc., until to that inflati through himself in/into/on idols they_fell. From with_faith, etc., AMBR. of_God prosender, in/into/on faith of_man who/which he_believes to_him, etc., until to in/into/on faith things and in_appearancei. AUG. Faith it_is which they_believeur them which not/no they_seem, etc., until to in/into/on faith things which he_believess obtinebimus. Like written it_is. In Abacuc chapter. 2. so/thus it_is: Just however from his_own with_faith he_will_live. But this and such_(things) more evidence which puts, away Hebraicæ to_the_truths transferne, which now utimur, they_seem I_learnrdare: because sometimes sumit from LXX interpretibus, sometimes like speaking the_same in_spirit where the_prophets sense sumit only, to_his_own utens with_words suaque dispositione.

UGNT δικαιοσύνη γὰρ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται, ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν; καθὼς γέγραπται, ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται.
(dikaiosunaʸ gar Theou en autōi apokaluptetai, ek pisteōs eis pistin; kathōs gegraptai, ho de dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai.)

SBL-GNT δικαιοσύνη γὰρ θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν, καθὼς γέγραπται· Ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται.
(dikaiosunaʸ gar theou en autōi apokaluptetai ek pisteōs eis pistin, kathōs gegraptai; Ho de dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai.)

RP-GNT Δικαιοσύνη γὰρ θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν, καθὼς γέγραπται, Ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται.
(Dikaiosunaʸ gar theou en autōi apokaluptetai ek pisteōs eis pistin, kathōs gegraptai, Ho de dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai.)

TC-GNT Δικαιοσύνη γὰρ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν, καθὼς γέγραπται, Ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται.
(Dikaiosunaʸ gar Theou en autōi apokaluptetai ek pisteōs eis pistin, kathōs gegraptai, Ho de dikaios ek pisteōs zaʸsetai. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:8–17: Paul wanted to visit the believers at/in Rome

In this section, Paul thanked God that, in many places, people had heard about the faith of the believers in Rome. He also told them that he was asking God to make a way for him to go and visit them. He expected that he and they together would strengthen each other in their faith in Jesus Christ. He told them that he had been wanting to visit them for a long time and was eager to preach the gospel to the people there.

Then Paul wrote down the main things he wanted to talk about in the rest of the letter. He spoke of the gospel and who it is for.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Paul wanted to visit Rome

Paul hoped to visit them

1:17a

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God

For God reveals his righteousness in the/that gospel
For, by means of that Good News, God is showing his straight/upright ways/living

For: Here this word introduces an explanation for why the gospel is God’s power to save everyone who believes (1:16).

the gospel: The word that the BSB translates as the gospel is literally “in/by it.” When people hear the gospel, God reveals his righteousness to them. In some languages it may not be clear what “it” refers to here. If that is true in your language, use your normal word or phrase for the gospel. For example:

in/through the gospel

reveals the righteousness of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as reveals is passive. The whole verse part is more literally “For the righteousness of God is revealed in it.” It is likely that God (or the Holy Spirit) reveals here. The present tense indicates an ongoing action. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

God is revealing his righteousness

the righteousness of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as righteousness refers to doing what is right here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

God’s righteousness

the right/straight living/deeds of God

The scholars understand this phrase in several different ways here, including “God calling someone righteous” and “God’s “righteous activity.” But the above definition seems best here, since the gospel reveals it.

1:17b

that comes by faith from start to finish,

from someone’s faith to another’s faith,
from their faith/believing to the faith/believing of those who hear and so believe.

by faith from start to finish: The phrase that the BSB translates as by faith from start to finish is literally “from faith to faith.” The expression indicates that revealing God’s righteousness is connected to or requires faith. The Greek word that the BSB translates as by can also mean “to” or “for.” For example:

from faith to faith (NASB)

Some languages can translate these words literally. Scholars understand them in many different ways here. Here are some of the interpretations:

It means “from God’s faithfulness to believers’ faith.”Dunn (pages 43–44), Longenecker (pages 178–179), and Witherington (page 55).
It refers to a progression, from person to person as the gospel is shared and new people believe it.Jewett (page 143) supports this interpretation. He refers to similar use of “from…to…” in Psalms 83:8, Jeremiah 9:2, 2 Corinthians 2:16, and 3:18. He calls it “the missionary expansion of the gospel.”
It refers to a progression within a person’s faith.Schreiner (page 72–73). For example:
a righteousness that is by faith from first to last (NIV)
It is an idiom that means “by faith alone.”Cranfield (page 99–100). For example:
God accepts everyone who has faith, but only those who have faith (CEV)

The Greek seems to allow interpretation (1) or (2), and, less likely, (3) or (4).Witherington (page 55) says, “The notion that this is simply an intensified way of saying ‘by faith’ or ‘by faith alone’…entirely ignores the usual force of the preposition ek (‘from’).” Scholars of one interpretation argue against other interpretations, but no one argument seems to stand out as clearly best. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) or (2). But if the major language version follows interpretation (3) or (4), you may want to follow that.

1:17c

just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

as it was written long ago, “The righteous person will live according to his faith.”
It is just as the Scriptures say, “Righteous people will live following/obeying their faith.”

The quote here is from Habakkuk 2:4. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

just as: Here this word indicates a comparison between “the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish” (1:17a–b) and “The righteous will live by faith” (1:17c).

it is written: The Greek is more literally “it has been written.” Habakkuk wrote more than 600 years before Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate the quote was written at the same time as Paul wrote here. If that is true in your language, indicate it was long before Paul wrote. For example:

it was written long ago

This clause refers to what was written in the Old Testament. Some languages must make that explicit to make that clear. For example:

As the scripture says (GNT)

The clause is passive. The prophet Habakkuk wrote what God told him to write. Some languages must use a clause that is not passive here. For example:

the prophet wrote long ago

what God caused-to-be-written which says,Kankanaey Back Translation on TW.

It is like it says in the Holy BookOtomi Back Translation on TW.

The righteous will live by faith: This quote is from Habakkuk 2:4. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

The Greek is literally “a righteous-one from faith will live.” There are several ways to interpret how “from faith” connects to the rest of the clause. Here are the two main ones:

It connects to shall/will live. For example:
The righteous will live by faith (BSB) (BSB, NIV, NRSV, NASB, KJV, ESV, NCV)
It connects to the righteous. For example:
He who through faith is righteous shall live (RSV) (RSV, GNT, CEV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is a common way to connect such a phrase to the verb.See Jewett (page 146). Also, it is closer to the Hebrew in Habakkuk 2:4 (Lenski, page 71). But interpretation (2) is also possible, so if the major language version follows that, you may want to follow it.

Some English versions try to copy the perceived ambiguity in the Greek. For example:

The one who is righteous by faith will live (NABRE)

The righteous: The Greek word that the BSB translates as righteous here refers to people who do what is right. It implies doing what God says is right to do. It does not refer to people who think they are righteous according to their own power or thinking. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

Righteous people

People who do what is right

This has a similar meaning to “righteousness” in 1:17a.

by faith: The word by indicates that righteous people live by means of their faith. Their faith guides how they live. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

through his faith

according to their faith

In this division, Paul wrote about people sinning, God’s anger against sin, God judging all people according to what they have done, and no person being righteous before God.

Here are other possible headings for this division:

All people have sinned against God and therefore God is right to punish them

The Unrighteousness of All Mankind (NIV)

God is right to be angry with all people

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: δικαιοσύνη Γάρ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν καθώς γέγραπται ὁ Δέ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται)

For indicates that what follows is the reason why the gospel is the power of God that leads to salvation, as stated in the previous verse. Use a natural way in your language for indicating a reason. Alternate translation: [The gospel can save everyone who believes because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δικαιοσύνη & Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται

˓the˒_righteousness & ˱of˲_God in it ˓is_being˒_revealed

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [it reveals the righteousness of God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

δικαιοσύνη & Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται

˓the˒_righteousness & ˱of˲_God in it ˓is_being˒_revealed

Paul speaks about the righteousness of God as if it were an object that could be revealed. He means that people learn about the righteousness of God when someone proclaims the gospel to them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [when people preach the gospel, those who hear it learn about the righteousness of God]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

δικαιοσύνη & Θεοῦ

˓the˒_righteousness & ˱of˲_God

Here Paul is using the possessive form of God that could refer to: (1) righteousness that comes from God. Alternate translation: [the righteousness from God] (2) righteousness that characterizes God. Alternate translation: [God’s righteousness]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δικαιοσύνη & Θεοῦ

˓the˒_righteousness & ˱of˲_God

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of righteousness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the way in which God causes people to become righteous]

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

ἐν αὐτῷ

in it

The pronoun it here refers to “the gospel” that was mentioned in the previous verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [in the gospel]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν

by faith to faith

Here, from faith to faith describes how the righteousness of God is revealed. It is an idiom that could mean: (1) completely by faith alone. Alternate translation: [by faith from beginning to end] or [through faith from first to last] (2) by the faith that all believers share, in the way that the phrase “from sea to sea” means “from one sea to another sea.” Alternate translation: [from one person’s faith to another person’s faith] (3) by faith that leads to increasing faith. Alternate translation: [through faith for faith] or [from one degree of faith to another]

Note 8 topic: writing-quotations

καθὼς γέγραπται

Here Paul uses just as it is written to introduce a quotation from an Old Testament book ([Habakkuk 2:4](../hab/02/04.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase that indicates that Paul is quoting from an important text. Alternate translation: [just as it is written in the Scriptures]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καθὼς γέγραπται

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, the quotation was written by the prophet Habakkuk. Alternate translation: [just as the prophet Habakkuk wrote]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: δικαιοσύνη Γάρ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ ἀποκαλύπτεται ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν καθώς γέγραπται ὁ Δέ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται)

In this sentence Paul quotes [Habakkuk 2:4](../hab/02/04.md). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate this by setting off all of this material with quotation marks or with whatever punctuation or convention your language uses to indicate a quotation.

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

by faith by faith ˓will_be˒_living

Here, live could refer to: (1) eternal life. Alternate translation: [will live eternally by faith] (2) the quality of one’s physical life. Alternate translation: [will truly live by faith]

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence 2) πίστεως

faith

See how you translated faith in [1:5](../01/05.md)

Parallel ROM 1:17

Section 1:8–17: Paul wanted to visit the believers at/in Rome

1:17a

1:17b

1:17c