1:17a
For: Here this word introduces an explanation for why the gospel is God’s power to save everyone who believes (1:16).
the gospel: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the gospel is literally “in/by it.” When people hear the gospel, God reveals his righteousness to them. In some languages it may not be clear what “it” refers to here. If that is true in your language, use your normal word or phrase for the gospel. For example:
in/through the gospel
reveals the righteousness of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reveals is passive. The whole verse part is more literally “For the righteousness of God is revealed in it.” It is likely that God (or the Holy Spirit) reveals here. The present tense indicates an ongoing action. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:
God is revealing his righteousness
the righteousness of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteousness refers to doing what is right here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
God’s righteousness
-or-
the right/straight living/deeds of God
The scholars understand this phrase in several different ways here, including “God calling someone righteous” and “God’s “righteous activity.” But the above definition seems best here, since the gospel reveals it.
1:17b
by faith from start to finish: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by faith from start to finish is literally “from faith to faith.” The expression indicates that revealing God’s righteousness is connected to or requires faith. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by can also mean “to” or “for.” For example:
from faith to faith (New American Standard Bible)
Some languages can translate these words literally. Scholars understand them in many different ways here. Here are some of the interpretations:
(1) It means “from God’s faithfulness to believers’ faith.”
(2) It refers to a progression, from person to person as the gospel is shared and new people believe it.
(3) It refers to a progression within a person’s faith. For example:
a righteousness that is by faith from first to last (New International Version)
(4) It is an idiom that means “by faith alone.” For example:
God accepts everyone who has faith, but only those who have faith (Contemporary English Version)
The Greek seems to allow interpretation (1) or (2), and, less likely, (3) or (4). Scholars of one interpretation argue against other interpretations, but no one argument seems to stand out as clearly best. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) or (2). But if the major language version follows interpretation (3) or (4), you may want to follow that.
1:17c
The quote here is from Habakkuk 2:4. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.
just as: Here this word indicates a comparison between “the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish” (1:17a–b) and “The righteous will live by faith” (1:17c).
it is written: The Greek is more literally “it has been written.” Habakkuk wrote more than 600 years before Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate the quote was written at the same time as Paul wrote here. If that is true in your language, indicate it was long before Paul wrote. For example:
it was written ⌊long ago⌋
This clause refers to what was written in the Old Testament. Some languages must make that explicit to make that clear. For example:
As the scripture says (Good News Translation)
The clause is passive. The prophet Habakkuk wrote what God told him to write. Some languages must use a clause that is not passive here. For example:
the prophet wrote ⌊long ago⌋
-or-
what God caused-to-be-written which says,
-or-
It is like it says in the Holy Book
The righteous will live by faith: This quote is from Habakkuk 2:4. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.
The Greek is literally “a righteous-one from faith will live.” There are several ways to interpret how “from faith” connects to the rest of the clause. Here are the two main ones:
(1) It connects to shall /will live. For example:
The righteous will live by faith (Berean Standard Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Century Version)
(2) It connects to the righteous. For example:
He who through faith is righteous shall live (Revised Standard Version)
(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is a common way to connect such a phrase to the verb. But interpretation (2) is also possible, so if the major language version follows that, you may want to follow it.
Some English versions try to copy the perceived ambiguity in the Greek. For example:
The one who is righteous by faith will live (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
The righteous: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteous here refers to people who do what is right. It implies doing what God says is right to do. It does not refer to people who think they are righteous according to their own power or thinking. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
Righteous people
-or-
People who do what is right
This has a similar meaning to “righteousness” in 1:17a.
by faith: The word by indicates that righteous people live by means of their faith. Their faith guides how they live. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
through his faith
-or-
according to their faith
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