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Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28, (29-31)

Justified by Faith Apart from the Law

March 1, 2026

Law and Gospel (Gesetz und Gnade), Lucas Cranach the Elder
Law and Gospel (Gesetz und Gnade), Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1529Friedenstein Palace, Gotha
Cranach's diagram of Lutheran theology: a tree bare on one side and green on the other, with Moses and the law to the left and the cross to the right.The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe: Romans 3 is the text this painting was built to illustrate.Lucas Cranach the ElderCourt painter in Wittenberg (1472-1553), Luther's friend and the printer of his movement's images, which made him the visual voice of the Reformation.Friedenstein Palace, GothaA seventeenth-century ducal palace in Thuringia, one of the largest early Baroque buildings in Germany, with its art collection intact.Friedenstein Palace, Gotha
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 7:21-29Mt 7:21-29
EpistleRom. 1:16-17, 3:22b-28, (29-31)Rom 1:16-17, 3:22b-28, (29-31)
Old TestamentDeut. 11:18-21, 26-28Dt 11:18-21, 26-28
PsalterPs. 31:1-5, 19-24Ps 31:1-5, 19-24

Overview & Insights

"For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law." (Romans 3:28)

Paul declares he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation, and states his thesis that the righteous live by faith. He then explains that all have sinned, yet all are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption in Christ, a gift received by faith rather than earned by keeping the law.

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Take it further: Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28, (29-31)

Commentary

Romans 1:16-17 CommentariesRom 1:16-17 Commentaries BibleHub

Collects classic commentaries on Paul's thesis statement for the whole letter.

Romans 1 CommentaryRom 1 Commentary Enduring Word

A pastoral walk through the chapter that states the gospel is the power of God.

Commentary on Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 [29-31]Commentary on Rom 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 [29-31] Working Preacher

The RCL preaching commentary written for this exact combined pericope.

Romans 1:16-17 CommentaryRom 1:16-17 Commentary Precept Austin

An evangelical verse-by-verse study of the gospel as the power of God for salvation.

Romans 1 - Gill's ExpositionRom 1 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight

Gill's older exposition for further historic detail on the opening chapter.

Romans 1 - Barnes' NotesRom 1 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' concise 19th-century notes on the same chapter.

Background & Word Study

Romans 1:16-17 InterlinearRom 1:16-17 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the Greek text word by word for righteousness, faith, and the gospel.

Book of Romans Overview (Part 1)Book of Rom Overview (Part 1) BibleProject

An animated overview of Romans 1-4 that frames Paul's argument about justification.

Fathers

Romans 1 CatenaRom 1 Catena Catena

Early church comment on Paul's opening statement of the gospel.

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