Romans 4

Abraham Justified by Faith

1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather  * 4:1 Rm 1:3 according to the flesh, has found?  * 4:1 Or What then shall we say? Have we found Abraham to be our forefather according to the flesh?  or What, then, shall we say that Abraham our forefather found according to the flesh?2 If Abraham was justified  * 4:2 Or was declared righteous, or was acquitted by works,  * 4:2 1Co 1:31 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 for righteousness.* 4:3 Gn 15:6,* 4:3 Gn 15:6; Gl 3:6; Jms 2:234 Now to the one who works,  * 4:4 Rm 11:6 pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly,  * 4:5 Jn 3:33; Rm 3:22 his faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven

and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the person

the Lord will never charge with sin.* 4:7–8 Ps 32:1–2,* 4:7–8 Ps 32:1–2; 2Co 5:19

Abraham Justified before Circumcision

9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised,  * 4:9 Rm 3:30 then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.* 4:9 Gn 15:6,* 4:9 Gn 15:610 In what way, then, was it credited — while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision  * 4:11 Gn 17:10–11 as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith  * 4:11 Lit righteousness of faith, also in v. 13,* 4:11 Jn 3:33 while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father  * 4:11 Lk 19:9 of all who believe  * 4:11 Rm 3:22 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  * 4:13 Rm 9:8; Gl 3:16; Heb 6:15,17; 7:6; 11:9,17 or to his descendants that he would inherit the world  * 4:13 Gn 17:4–6; 21:17–18 was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 If those who are of the law are heirs,  * 4:14 Gl 3:18 faith is made empty and the promise nullified, 15 because the law produces wrath.  * 4:15 Rm 7:7,10–25; 1Co 15:56; Gl 3:10 And where there is no law,  * 4:15 Rm 3:20 there is no transgression.

16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,  * 4:16 Rm 3:24 to guarantee it to all the descendants  * 4:16 Rm 9:8; 15:8  — not only to the one who is of the law  * 4:16 Or not to the one who is of the law only but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations  —   * 4:17 Gn 17:5,* 4:17 Gn 17:5 in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead  * 4:17 Jn 5:21 and calls  * 4:17 Is 48:13; 51:2 things into existence that do not exist.  * 4:17 1Co 1:2818 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations* 4:18 Gn 17:5,* 4:18 Gn 17:5 according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.* 4:18 Gn 15:5,* 4:18 Gn 15:519 He did not weaken in faith when he considered  * 4:19 Other mss read He did not consider his own body to be already dead  * 4:19 Heb 11:12 (since he was about a hundred years old)  * 4:19 Gn 17:17 and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb.  * 4:19 Gn 18:1120 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  * 4:20 Mt 9:821 because he was fully convinced  * 4:21 Rm 14:5 that what God had promised, he was also able to do.  * 4:21 Gn 18:14; Heb 11:1922 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.* 4:22 Gn 15:6,* 4:22 Gn 15:6; Rm 4:323 Now it was credited to him* 4:23 Gn 15:6 was not written for Abraham alone,  * 4:23 Rm 15:4; 1Co 9:9; 10:11; 2Tm 3:1624 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him  * 4:24 Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:21 who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  * 4:24 Ac 2:2425 He was delivered up for  * 4:25 Or because of our trespasses  * 4:25 Rm 5:6,8; 8:32; Gl 2:20; Eph 5:2 and raised for our justification.  * 4:25 Rm 5:18; 1Co 15:17; 2Co 5:15