10 As it is written:Now we do know that at least some of these men (especially Lot and probably Noah) were not righteous in the sense that they never sinned. However, the tension between the idea that “there is none righteous, no not one” and that certain men are expressly said to be righteous does underscore the fact that the hyperbole is used in the bible when speaking of righteousness.
“ There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
I do not believe this is hyperbole in the context of the previous verses which say:
1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
In one sense the righteousness of men declared by God was that of faith possessed by those men. Abraham certainly went a long way to show his sinful behaviour but yet God called him a man of righteousness. David, likewise failed in many ways but God called him a man after His own heart. Each practiced faith in God balanced with obiedience to what God required from them. In the eyes of God this was declared righteousness. Today we know that Jesus Christ is the principal element in being seen by God as righteous. God no longer sees us on our own but sees us as through His Son. The same was true for the OT Believers but it was still a mystery at that time but true none the less.
