How is Habakkuk 2:4 connected to Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11? Habakkuk’s Foundational Statement “Behold, the proud soul is not upright in him; but the righteous will live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4) Paul Echoes the Prophet • Romans 1:17 – “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” • Galatians 3:11 – “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the Law, because ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” The Shared Core Truth • Same quoted clause—“The righteous will live by faith.” • Both Old and New Testaments affirm that true life with God is grounded in faith, not human merit. • Paul treats Habakkuk’s line as timeless, spanning covenants and cultures. Why Paul Repeats Habakkuk 1. To prove that the gospel is rooted in Scripture, not a new invention. 2. To highlight that salvation has always rested on trusting God’s provision, not on keeping the Law (Genesis 15:6; Psalm 32:1-2). 3. To show that faith remains the only pathway to righteousness—then, now, forever. Three Dimensions of “Live” • Spiritual life—justification before God (Romans 5:1). • Ongoing life—daily dependence on God’s promises (2 Corinthians 5:7). • Future life—everlasting life secured through Christ (John 3:16). Contrast with the Proud • Habakkuk’s “proud soul” parallels those who rely on works of the Law (Galatians 3:10). • Pride trusts self; faith trusts God. • One path leads to judgment, the other to life. Unity of the Testaments • Habakkuk 2:4 anchors Paul’s theology: the Law exposes sin (Romans 3:20), but faith receives God’s righteousness (Philippians 3:9). • The gospel does not cancel the prophetic word; it completes it (Matthew 5:17). Living the Principle Today • Rest your standing with God on Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Continue in the same faith that saved you (Colossians 2:6-7). • Reject prideful self-reliance; embrace humble, persevering trust. The single sentence in Habakkuk lights the path that Paul walks in Romans and Galatians: the righteous—yesterday, today, and forever—live by faith. |
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