4:9 Is this blessedness 8 then for 9 the circumcision 10 or also for 11 the uncircumcision? For we say, “faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 12
5:18 Consequently, 13 just as condemnation 14 for all people 15 came 16 through one transgression, 17 so too through the one righteous act 18 came righteousness leading to life 19 for all people.
10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.” 22 10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, 23 ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” 24 (that is, to bring Christ down)
1 tn The nature of the “righteousness” described here and the force of the genitive θεοῦ (“of God”) which follows have been much debated. (1) Some (e.g. C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans [ICC], 1:98) understand “righteousness” to refer to the righteous status given to believers as a result of God’s justifying activity, and see the genitive “of God” as a genitive of source (= “from God”). (2) Others see the “righteousness” as God’s act or declaration that makes righteous (i.e., justifies) those who turn to him in faith, taking the genitive “of God” as a subjective genitive (see E. Käsemann, Romans, 25-30). (3) Still others see the “righteousness of God” mentioned here as the attribute of God himself, understanding the genitive “of God” as a possessive genitive (“God’s righteousness”).
2 tn Grk “in it”; the referent (the gospel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Or “by faith for faith,” or “by faith to faith.” There are many interpretations of the phrase ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν (ek pistew" ei" pistin). It may have the idea that this righteousness is obtained by faith (ἐκ πίστεως) because it was designed for faith (εἰς πίστιν). For a summary see J. Murray, Romans (NICNT), 1:363-74.
4 sn A quotation from Hab 2:4.
5 tn Νυνὶ δέ (Nuni de, “But now”) could be understood as either (1) logical or (2) temporal in force, but most recent interpreters take it as temporal, referring to a new phase in salvation history.
6 tn Grk “being witnessed by the law and the prophets,” a remark which is virtually parenthetical to Paul’s argument.
7 tn Or “who justifies the ungodly.”
8 tn Or “happiness.”
9 tn Grk “upon.”
10 sn See the note on “circumcision” in 2:25.
11 tn Grk “upon.”
12 sn A quotation from Gen 15:6.
13 tn There is a double connective here that cannot be easily preserved in English: “consequently therefore,” emphasizing the conclusion of what he has been arguing.
14 tn Grk “[it is] unto condemnation for all people.”
15 tn Here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpou") has been translated as a generic (“people”) since both men and women are clearly intended in this context.
16 tn There are no verbs in the Greek text of v. 18, forcing translators to supply phrases like “came through one transgression,” “resulted from one transgression,” etc.
17 sn One transgression refers to the sin of Adam in Gen 3:1-24.
18 sn The one righteous act refers to Jesus’ death on the cross.
19 tn Grk “righteousness of life.”
20 tn Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.
21 tn Or “life-giving.” Grk “the Spirit is life.”
22 sn A quotation from Lev 18:5.
23 sn A quotation from Deut 9:4.
24 sn A quotation from Deut 30:12.