Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 3:21

"But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;" — Romans 3:21 (ASV)

But now.—In these latter days. The Apostle conceives of the history of the world as divided into periods; the period of the Gospel succeeds that of the Law, and to it the Apostle and his readers belong. (Compare, for this conception of the gospel as manifested at a particular epoch of time, Romans 16:25–26; Acts 17:30; Galatians 3:23; Galatians 3:25; Galatians 4:3–4; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:12–13; Colossians 1:21; Colossians 1:26; 1 Timothy 2:6; 2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 1:1; 1 Peter 1:20.)

The righteousness of God.—Rather, a righteousness of God—that is, “bestowed by God,” “wrought out by Him,” as in Romans 1:17. The reference is again, here as there, to the root-conception of righteousness as at once the great object and condition of the Messianic kingdom.

Without the law.—In complete independence of any law, though borne witness to by the Law of Moses. The new system is one into which the idea of law does not enter.

Is manifested.—Has been, and continues to be manifested. The initial moment is that of the appearance of Christ upon earth. The scheme which then began is still evolving itself.

Being witnessed.—The Apostle does not lose sight of the preparatory function of the older dispensation, and of its radical affinity to the new. (Romans 16:26; Luke 18:31; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:44; Luke 24:46; John 5:39; John 5:46; Acts 2:25; Acts 2:31; Acts 3:22; Acts 3:24; Acts 17:2–3; Acts 26:22–23; 1 Peter 1:10–11.)