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It is of interest to observe that the three divisions into which the text of Hab. 2: 4
naturally falls, coincides with the main purpose of the quotation in the three epistles:
"The Just." This most certainly fits the teaching of Romans which stresses the
righteousness of God which is by faith, the justification both of the sinner and of God
Who justifies him.
"By Faith." A reading of Gal. 3: will show the prominent place that faith occupies
in the exposition of the distinctive teaching of that epistle.
"Shall live." In Heb. 10: and 11: we have the subsequent life of faith that should
characterize those who are justified. The emphasis upon the word `perfect' in Hebrews,
together with the insistence upon the practical outworking of grace, places the teaching of
this epistle on justification on the same platform as that of James.
The verse in Romans that gives the quotation from Habakkuk contains a clause that
has given rise to many different ideas. That clause is `from faith to faith'. One opinion is
that voiced by Theophylact who said:
"Our first faith is not sufficient, but we must ascend from inceptive faith to a more
perfect degree of it."
Clemens Alex. says,
"A common faith is, as it were, a foundation . . . . . a teleia faith is one that can
remove mountains."
This, however, is confusing the teaching of Paul with that of James, and is certainly
not the sense intended in Rom. 1: 17.
First of all, we can rid ourselves of any false ideas arising out of the expression `from
faith' (ek pisteos), for it is identical with the words `by faith' that are found in the same
verse. Let us consider some parallels in the same epistle:
"A righteousness of God through faith (dia pisteos)" (Rom. 3: 22).
"Justify . . . . . by faith (ek pisteos) . . . . . through faith (dia pisteos)" (Rom. 3: 30).
"The righteousness of faith (dia pisteos)" (Rom. 4: 13).
"Therefore being justified by faith (ek pisteos)" (Rom. 5: 1).
In every case (there are many more in Galatians), it is `righteousness' that is `by faith'.
All that is necessary correctly to translate Rom. 1: 17 is to supply the ellipsis of the
words `righteousness' and `revealed'. The expression `revealed from faith' does not
make sense.
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed (a righteousness) out of faith,
revealed unto faith, as it is written, The just by faith shall live" (Rom. 1: 17).