Romans 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Abraham Justified by Faith(A)

4 What then shall we say that (B)Abraham our (C)father[a] has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was (D)justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? (E)“Abraham believed God, and it was [b]accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now (F)to him who works, the wages are not counted [c]as grace but as debt.

David Celebrates the Same Truth

5 But to him who (G)does not work but believes on Him who justifies (H)the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also (I)describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed(J) are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Abraham Justified Before Circumcision

9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And (K)he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that (L)he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father (M)Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

The Promise Granted Through Faith

13 For the promise that he would be the (N)heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For (O)if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because (P)the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be (Q)according to grace, (R)so that the promise might be [d]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, (S)who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, (T)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, (U)who gives life to the dead and calls those (V)things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, (W)“So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, (X)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), (Y)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised (Z)He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore (AA)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

23 Now (AB)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe (AC)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 (AD)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and (AE)was raised because of our justification.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:1 Or (fore)father according to the flesh has found?
  2. Romans 4:3 imputed, credited, reckoned, counted
  3. Romans 4:4 according to
  4. Romans 4:16 certain

Cross references

  1. Romans 4:1 : Gen. 17:10
  2. Romans 4:1 : Gen. 11:27—25:9; Is. 51:2; [Matt. 3:9]; John 8:33
  3. Romans 4:1 : [Luke 3:8]; John 8:53; James 2:21
  4. Romans 4:2 : Rom. 3:20, 27
  5. Romans 4:3 : Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:9, 22; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23
  6. Romans 4:4 : Rom. 11:6
  7. Romans 4:5 : [Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8, 9]
  8. Romans 4:5 : Josh. 24:2
  9. Romans 4:6 : Ps. 32:1, 2
  10. Romans 4:7 : Ps. 32:1, 2
  11. Romans 4:11 : Gen. 17:10
  12. Romans 4:11 : Luke 19:9; Rom. 4:16
  13. Romans 4:12 : Rom. 4:18–22
  14. Romans 4:13 : Gen. 17:4–6; 22:17
  15. Romans 4:14 : Gal. 3:18
  16. Romans 4:15 : Rom. 3:20
  17. Romans 4:16 : [Rom. 3:24]
  18. Romans 4:16 : [Gal. 3:22]
  19. Romans 4:16 : Is. 51:2
  20. Romans 4:17 : Gen. 17:5
  21. Romans 4:17 : [Rom. 8:11]
  22. Romans 4:17 : Rom. 9:26
  23. Romans 4:18 : Gen. 15:5
  24. Romans 4:19 : Gen. 17:17
  25. Romans 4:19 : Heb. 11:11
  26. Romans 4:21 : Gen. 18:14; [Ps. 115:3; Luke 1:37; Heb. 11:19]
  27. Romans 4:22 : Gen. 15:6
  28. Romans 4:23 : Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:6
  29. Romans 4:24 : Acts 2:24
  30. Romans 4:25 : Is. 53:4, 5; [Rom. 5:6, 8; 8:32; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:28]
  31. Romans 4:25 : [Rom. 5:18; 1 Cor. 15:17; 2 Cor. 5:15]

You Might Also Like:

Romans 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 What, then, shall we say Abraham our father, to have found, according to flesh? 2 for if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath to boast -- but not before god; 3 for what doth the writing say? `And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him -- to righteousness;' 4 and to him who...
Read More

Romans 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 What then shall we say, that Abraham our father after the flesh found? 2 For if Abraham is justified of works of the law, he hath glory, but not with God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed to God, and it was areckoned [reckoned] to him to rightwiseness. 4 And to him that worketh ...
Read More

Romans 4 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

4 So what shall we say about Abraham? He is the father of our family on earth. 2 If Abraham was put right with God, because of what he did, he has something to be proud of. But he has nothing to be proud of when he stands before God. 3 What do the holy writings say? It says, `Abraham believed God. A...
Read More

Romans 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”Genesis 15:...
Read More

Romans 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 In light of all of this, what should we say about our ancestor Abraham? 2 If Abraham was made right by performing certain works, then he would surely have something to brag about. Right? Not before the Creator God, 3 because as the Scriptures say, “Abraham believed God and trusted in His promise...
Read More

Romans 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Abraham Set Right by Faith4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was set right by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as ri...
Read More

Romans 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Example of Abraham4 What then shall we say about[a] Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousnes...
Read More

Romans 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Example of Abraham4 What then shall we say about[a] Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousnes...
Read More

Romans 4 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

4 What, then, shall we say that Abraham, our Father, has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he has grounds to boast. But not with God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now, to one who works,...
Read More

Romans 4 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

God’s Covenant with Abraham4 What shall we say, then? Have we found Abraham to be our ancestor in a human, fleshly sense? 2 After all, if Abraham was reckoned ‘in the right’ on the basis of works, he has grounds to boast – but not in God’s presence! 3 So what does the Bible say? ‘Abraham believed G...
Read More

Romans 4 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

The Example of Abraham4 What then are we to say was gained by[a] Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as right...
Read More

Romans 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Example of Abraham4 What then are we to say was gained by[a] Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as right...
Read More

Romans 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Example of Abraham4 What then are we to say was gained by[a] Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.(A)3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed[b] God, and it was reckoned to him as ri...
Read More

Romans 4 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Paul shows by the example of Abraham that faith justifies, and not the law or the works of the law. 4 What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as to the flesh, did find? 2 If Abraham were justified by deeds, then he has wherein to glory, but not with God. 3 For what does the scripture say? ...
Read More

Romans 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Faith of Abraham4 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abra...
Read More

Romans 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

4 What about Abraham, our early father? What did he learn? 2 If Abraham was made right with God by what he did, he would have had something to be proud of. But he could not be proud before God. 3 The Holy Writings say, “Abraham put his trust in God and that made him right with God.” (A) 4 If a ma...
Read More

Romans 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Abraham Justified by Faith(A)4 What then shall we say that (B)Abraham our (C)father[a] has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was (D)justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? (E)“Abraham believed God, and it was [b]accou...
Read More