The phrase “from faith to faith” in Romans 1:17 has been interpreted in different ways by Bible scholars over the years. Here is an overview of the main views on the meaning of this important verse:
The Context of Romans 1:17
Romans 1:17 says “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.'” This verse comes in the midst of Paul’s opening argument in his letter to the Romans. In chapter 1 verse 16, Paul declares that he is unashamed of the gospel, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” He then explains what he means in verse 17 – that in the gospel, God’s righteousness is revealed.
So verse 17 seems to be an explanation of why the gospel is powerful – because it reveals God’s righteousness “from faith to faith.” Understanding what this phrase means is key to understanding Paul’s argument. Let’s look at the main interpretations:
View 1: From the Faithfulness of God to the Faith of Humans
One view is that the righteousness of God is revealed “from faith to faith” in the sense of going from God’s faithfulness to human faith. In other words, God has been faithful to fulfill His promises by sending Jesus Christ. This manifestation of God’s faithfulness leads to human faith in Christ.
Proponents of this view see “from faith” referring to God’s faithfulness, and “to faith” referring to human faith in the gospel. The revelation of God’s righteousness through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection demonstrates His faithfulness and evokes faith in people when they hear the gospel.
View 2: From One Degree of Faith to Another
Another common interpretation sees “from faith to faith” indicating increasing measures of faith. In other words, as people hear and embrace the gospel, their faith grows stronger and stronger. Faith is not static but dynamic.
So God’s righteousness is revealed in a way that brings people from one level of faith to a greater level of faith. As they grow in relationship with Christ, their faith is strengthened. This view sees faith as something that grows and progresses as people walk with God.
View 3: From the Faith of the Old Covenant to the Faith of the New Covenant
Some interpreters see “from faith to faith” as contrasting the faith of the Old Covenant with the faith of the New Covenant. In the Old Testament, people were justified by faith in God’s promises which pointed forward to the Messiah. In the New Testament, people are justified by faith in the Messiah who has now come.
So God’s righteousness was revealed from the faith of the Old Covenant to the faith of the New Covenant. Both eras involved faith, but in different objects – from promise to fulfillment.
View 4: From Beginning to End by Faith
A final view sees “from faith to faith” emphasizing that justification is by faith from start to finish. The entire Christian life, from beginning to end, is lived by faith in Christ.
God’s righteousness is revealed in a way that people must receive by faith, from the moment of initial belief to their final glorification. The righteousness of God is appropriated by faith alone throughout the entirety of the believer’s life.
Evaluating the Views
All of these views have merit. The context of Romans and Paul’s flow of thought can support multiple perspectives. However, View #4 has a linguistic advantage. The Greek preposition “ek” translated “from” in Romans 1:17, is very often used to denote source or origin. And the preposition “eis” translated “to” or “for” means motion or direction toward an end.
This would support the idea of “from faith to faith” referring to faith as the originating source and faith as the ending goal. The righteousness of God is revealed from start to finish by faith alone. This view fits well with Paul’s sustained argument throughout Romans that justification is through faith in Christ alone from beginning to end.
The Meaning for Today
When we synthesize the different views, Paul’s phrase “from faith to faith” contains rich meaning for believers today:
– It highlights God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises by sending Christ. This demonstration of faithfulness requires and evokes human faith.
– Faith is not stagnant but grows over time as we walk with Christ. New believers start with fledgling faith that grows stronger.
– There is both continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Covenant people of God. Both depend on faith, but in different objects.
– Justification by faith alone is no occasional experience but the entirety of the believer’s life. We begin and end by faith in Christ.
This concise phrase “from faith to faith” summarizes so much about the gospel of grace. Our salvation is entirely God’s work from first to last. And He reveals His righteousness on the basis of faith from start to finish – the life of faith is the theme of Romans and the heart of the gospel.
