Habakkuk 2:4 is the central verse in this little book. It is also a fundamental principle of the gospel and the New Testament. It is quoted in Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews. I thought it would be good to take a closer look at this.
Let's begin with Habakkuk.
2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
The righteous man will live, will survive the coming days, by his faith. Not by his righteousness, but by his faith. Faith is powerful.
Faith also has priority. It comes before righteous living, righteousness is birthed in faith.
What is this faith? Belief in the Lord, His Word, His ways, His character, His promises, His faithfulness. It is faith that moves me to obey, to be righteous, to be holy; it is faith that helps me ride out the storm. Not simply faith, but faith in the Lord, because faith connects me to Him.
As I have already said, Paul quotes this verse three times in the New Testament. Let’s take a brief look at each one and see how he uses it.
The Epistle to the Romans
1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Paul quotes this verse to support his message that salvation comes to every one who believes in Jesus Christ - those who are righteous by faith will live. How do we become righteous by faith?
3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe...
4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Paul spends much of chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 explaining and emphasizing this. Salvation is “unto all and upon all them that believe;” that is, it is offered to and actually given to all who believe in Jesus Christ. The just by faith shall live.
The Epistle to the Galatians
3:10-12 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Throughout Galatians Paul contrasts justification by the works of the law and justification by the faith of Jesus Christ, and says over and over that we are justified by faith in Christ.
2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
We have believed in Jesus Christ, believed He is the Son of God and trusted Him to save us; through this faith we have been justified, declared righteous, made right with God. The righteous by faith will live.
The Epistle to the Hebrews
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
This time Paul quotes Habakkuk 2:3-4 in full. This quote is from the Septuagint or LXX, as is every time Paul quotes Habakkuk. First, the full passage in Habakkuk:
Habakkuk 2:3-4 LXX
3 The vision is yet for a time and will rise up at the end and not in vain; if he seems to delay, wait for him, because he who is coming will come and will not tarry.
4 If he should draw back, my soul has no pleasure in him: but the just shall live by my faith.
There is an interesting expression in Romans 1:17, “from faith to faith.” I have wondered about that expression for a long time. Now I'm persuaded this passage in Hebrews is a wonderful commentary on it. Salvation comes to those who believe in Jesus Christ, they are justified by faith. But this believing in Jesus is not a one off experience, y’know, believe one day and then go your merry way. No, “the righteous shall live by faith,” that is, “believe to the saving of their soul.” On March 4, 1973 I believed in Jesus and was saved. Hallelujah! And lo, these 49 years later I still believe in Jesus. And for all 49 years I have lived by faith, read the Word by faith, prayed by faith, ministered by faith, preached and taught by faith. From faith to faith. Saving faith, walking faith, serving faith, waiting faith. This is exactly what God meant when He told Habakkuk, the just shall live by faith.
In all three quotations Paul is saying that Habakkuk 2:4 reveals a principle, one that is seen throughout the Old Testament, and is now enshrined in the Gospel: righteousness before God comes through faith; and the righteous live for the Lord by faith.
John Chrysostom on “the just shall live by faith”
John Chrysostom (347–407) was an Early Church Father; he was archbishop of Constantinople, and was known as a very eloquent speaker (Chrysostom means "golden-mouthed"). He preached through the Bible verse by verse. Here is his explanation of the the just shall live by faith from his preaching through Romans and Galatians. He says it so much better than I can.
Rom 1:16 the gospel is the power of God unto salvation
For it is not to all absolutely, but to them that receive it. For though thou be a Grecian, and even one that has run into every kind of vice, though a Scythian, though a barbarian, though a very brute, and full of all irrationality, and burdened with the weights of endless sins, no sooner have you received the word concerning the Cross, and been baptized, than you have blotted out all these.
and righteousness, not your own, but that of God. For you do not achieve it by toilings and labors, but you receive it by a gift from above, contributing one thing only from your own store, believing. Then since his statement did not seem credible, if the adulterer and effeminate person, and robber of graves, and magician, is not only to be suddenly freed from punishment but to become just, and just too with the highest righteousness; he confirms his assertion from the Old Testament. And first with a short sentence, he lays open a vast sea of histories to one who has a capacity for seeing them. For after having said, from faith to faith, he sends the hearer back to the dispensations of God, which took place thus in the Old Testament, which, when writing to the Hebrews, he explains with his usual great wisdom, showing that both the just and the sinners were justified in that way even then, wherefore also he made mention both of the harlot and of Abraham.
Galatians 3:10-11 For it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them. Now that no man is justified by the Law is evident: for, The just shall live by faith
he again establishes his point by a text which concisely states both points; that no man has fulfilled the Law, (wherefore they are under the curse,) and, that Faith justifies. What then is the text? It is in the book of the prophet Habakkuk, The just shall live by faith, which not only establishes the righteousness that is of Faith, but also that there is no salvation through the Law.
You see how he proves that they are under the curse who cleave to the Law, because it is impossible to fulfill it; next, how comes Faith to have this justifying power? The Law being too weak to lead man to righteousness, an effectual remedy was provided in Faith, which is the means of rendering that possible which was impossible by the Law. Now as the Scripture says, the just shall live by faith, thus repudiating salvation by the Law, and moreover as Abraham was justified by Faith, it is evident that its efficacy is very great.
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