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Pentecost Season · Proper 4 · Year A

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

The Righteousness of God Revealed by Faith

May 31, 2026

Law and Grace (Gesetz und Gnade), Lucas Cranach the Elder
Law and Grace (Gesetz und Gnade), Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1529Herzogliches Museum, Gotha
One panel split down the middle by a tree, bare on the left where the law drives a man toward hell and in leaf on the right where the blood of the cross reaches him.All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift.Lucas Cranach the ElderCranach, who worked the argument out as a diagram with Luther standing by.Herzogliches Museum, GothaThe Herzogliches Museum, Gotha.Herzogliches Museum, 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 TestamentGen. 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19Gn 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19Alt. OTDeut. 11:18-21, 26-28Dt 11:18-21, 26-28
PsalterPs. 46Ps 46Alt. PsalmPs. 31:1-5, 19-24Ps 31:1-5, 19-24

Overview & Insights

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

Paul states his thesis that the gospel reveals God's saving righteousness received through faith. He then argues that since all have sinned, sinners are justified freely by grace apart from works of the law.

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

Commentary

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

Lectionary commentary on Paul's thesis statement and his teaching on justification by faith.

Romans 1 CommentaryRom 1 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes on the power of the gospel and the righteousness of God.

Romans 1:16 CommentariesRom 1:16 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries collected for the gospel's power for salvation.

Romans 1:11-17 CommentaryRom 1:11-17 Commentary Precept Austin

Precept Austin's detailed commentary on the section that includes Paul's thesis in 1:16-17.

Romans 3 ResourcesRom 3 Resources Precept Austin

Companion resources for the justification passage in Romans 3:22b-28.

Background & Word Study

Romans 1:16 InterlinearRom 1:16 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text and word study for key terms like gospel, power, and righteousness.

Overview: RomansOverview: Rom BibleProject

Animated overview of the letter's argument about the righteousness of God.

The Law BibleProject

Background on works of the law, central to Paul's contrast with faith.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Romans 1Catena: Rom 1 Catena

Patristic comment on Paul's opening thesis about the gospel.

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