COMMENTARY.

(21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, &c. Having demonstrated that no flesh could be justified by the deeds of the lav/ in the sight o1^ God, the apostle proceeds to show how the sinner can be justified. With regard to this point, he teaches, in this verse, 1. That the righteousness which is acceptable to God is not a legal righteous- ness ; and 2. That it had been taught already in the Old Testament. The words but nov) may be regarded as merely marking the transition from one paragraph to another, or as a designation of time : now, i. e. under the gospel dispensation. In favour of this view is the phrase, " to de- clare, at this time, his righteousness," in v. 26 ; compare also 1 : 17. Is manifested, i. e. clearly made known, equivalent to the phrase is re- vealed, as used in 1 : 17. The words righteousness of God are subjected here to the same diversity of interpretation that was noticed in the pas- sage just cited, where they first occur. They may mean, 1. A divine attribute, the justice, mercy, or general rectitude of God. 2. That right- eousness which is acceptable to God, which is such in his estimation. 3. God's method of justification ; see note on 1 : 17. The last interpre- wation gives here a very good sense, and is one very commonly adopted. The method of justification by works being impossible, God has revealed