Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 9:30

"What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:" — Romans 9:30 (ASV)

Which followed not after righteousness.—Not having a special revelation, and being inattentive to the law of conscience.

Attained to righteousness.—By accepting the offer of Christianity, and especially the Christian doctrine of justification by faith.

On Romans 9:30-33:

The Apostle has finished with his vindication of the rejection of Israel, and also finished with the course of argument that seemed to bear a strong character of determinism. He now takes up a point of view that is the direct opposite of this. In explaining the causes that led to the rejection of Israel, those he puts forward all depend for their validity on the freedom of the will. It is needless to say that this is abundantly recognized in other parts of St. Paul’s writings, especially in the earnest practical exhortations he addresses to his readers.

This, then, must be taken to qualify the argument that has preceded. The freedom of the will and the absolute sovereignty of God are two propositions that, though apparently contradictory, are both really true at one and the same time. When stated singly, each is apt to appear one-sided. They are reconciled, as it were, beneath the surface, in some way inscrutable to us. Both rest on evidence that in itself is incontrovertible.

The great reason for the rejection of Israel and for the admission of the Gentiles is that the Gentiles based their attempts at righteousness upon faith, while Israel did not. Righteousness is the middle term that leads to salvation. The Gentiles, without seeking, found it; the Jews, seeking in a wrong way, failed to find it.