- Who
- The prophet Habakkuk
- To
- Judah on the brink of Babylonian invasion
- Where
- Jerusalem, late 7th century BC
- When
- Habakkuk's anguished dialogue with God about violence and judgment
Why:Paul plants the gospel's thesis on a prophet who learned to trust God when history made no sense.
Context:This verse fueled Luther's Reformation. In context, Habakkuk contrasts the proud Chaldean with the faithful Israelite — Paul reads it as justification by faith for Jew and Gentile alike.
