Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor,[a](A) has found? 2 If Abraham was justified[b] by works,(B) he has something to brag about—but not before God.[c] 3 For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him for righteousness.(C)[d]
4 Now to the one who works,(D) pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous,[e](E) his faith is credited for righteousness.
David Celebrating the Same Truth
6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works:
7 How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered!
8 How joyful is the man
the Lord will never charge with sin!(F)[f]
Abraham Justified before Circumcision
9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised,(G) then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.(H)[g] 10 In what way then was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision(I) as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith[h](J) while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father(K) of all who believe(L) but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. 12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.
The Promise Granted through Faith
13 For the promise to Abraham(M) or to his descendants that he would inherit the world(N) was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.[i] 14 If those who are of the law are heirs,(O) faith is made empty and the promise is canceled. 15 For the law produces wrath.(P) And where there is no law,(Q) there is no transgression.
16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,(R) to guarantee it to all the descendants(S)—not only to those who are of the law[j] but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all 17 in God’s sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations.(T)[k] He believed in God, who gives life to the dead(U) and calls(V) things into existence that do not exist.(W) 18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations(X)[l] according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.(Y)[m] 19 He considered[n] his own body to be already dead(Z) (since he was about 100 years old)(AA) and also considered the deadness of Sarah’s womb,(AB) without weakening in the faith. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,(AC) 21 because he was fully convinced(AD) that what He had promised He was also able to perform.(AE) 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.(AF)[o] 23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,(AG) 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him(AH) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(AI) 25 He was delivered up for[p] our trespasses(AJ) and raised for[q] our justification.[r](AK)
Footnotes
- Romans 4:1 Lit our ancestor according to the flesh
- Romans 4:2 Or was declared righteous, or was acquitted
- Romans 4:2 He has no reason for boasting in God’s presence.
- Romans 4:3 Gn 15:6
- Romans 4:5 Or who acquits, or who justifies
- Romans 4:8 Ps 32:1-2
- Romans 4:9 Gn 15:6
- Romans 4:11 Lit righteousness of faith
- Romans 4:13 Lit righteousness of faith
- Romans 4:16 Or not to those who are of the law only
- Romans 4:17 Gn 17:5
- Romans 4:18 Gn 17:5
- Romans 4:18 Gn 15:5
- Romans 4:19 Other mss read He did not consider
- Romans 4:22 Gn 15:6
- Romans 4:25 Or because of
- Romans 4:25 Or because of
- Romans 4:25 Or acquittal
Cross references
- 4:1 : Rm 1:3
- 4:2 : 1Co 1:31
- 4:3 : Gn 15:6; Gl 3:6; Jms 2:23
- 4:4 : Rm 11:6
- 4:5 : Jn 3:33; Rm 3:22
- 4:7-8 : Ps 32:1-2; 2Co 5:19
- 4:9 : Rm 3:30
- 4:9 : Gn 15:6
- 4:11 : Gn 17:10-11
- 4:11 : Jn 3:33
- 4:11 : Lk 19:9
- 4:11 : Rm 3:22
- 4:13 : Rm 9:8; Gl 3:16; Heb 6:15, 17; 7:6; 11:9, 17
- 4:13 : Gn 17:4-6; 21:17-18
- 4:14 : Gl 3:18
- 4:15 : Rm 7:7, 10-25; 1Co 15:56; Gl 3:10
- 4:15 : Rm 3:20
- 4:16 : Rm 3:24
- 4:16 : Rm 9:8; 15:8
- 4:17 : Gn 17:5
- 4:17 : Jn 5:21
- 4:17 : Is 48:13; 51:2
- 4:17 : 1Co 1:28
- 4:18 : Gn 17:5
- 4:18 : Gn 15:5
- 4:19 : Heb 11:12
- 4:19 : Gn 17:17
- 4:19 : Gn 18:11
- 4:20 : Mt 9:8
- 4:21 : Rm 14:5
- 4:21 : Gn 18:14; Heb 11:19
- 4:22 : Gn 15:6; Rm 4:3
- 4:23 : Rm 15:4; 1Co 9:9; 10:11; 2Tm 3:16
- 4:24 : Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:21
- 4:24 : Ac 2:24
- 4:25 : Rm 5:6, 8; 8:32; Gl 2:20; Eph 5:2
- 4:25 : Rm 5:18; 1Co 15:17; 2Co 5:15