The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

(Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”(a)

Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.

However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”(b)

Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.(c)

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Abraham Receives the Promise

(Genesis 15:8–21)

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”(d) He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”(e)

Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(f)

Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Footnotes

(a)4:3 Genesis 15:6

(b)4:8 Psalms 32:1–2 (see also LXX)

(c)4:10 Literally How then was it reckoned—being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

(d)4:17 Genesis 17:5

(e)4:18 Genesis 15:5

(f)4:22 Genesis 15:6

(Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)

What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”(a)

Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.

But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” (b)

Is this blessing then pronounced only on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.

He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

Abraham Receives the Promise

(Genesis 15:8–21)

For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.”(c) This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”(d)

Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,

and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”(e)

Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,

but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Footnotes

(a)4:3 ℘ Genesis 15:6

(b)4:8 ℘ Psalms 32:1-2

(d)4:18 ℘ Genesis 15:5

(e)4:22 ℘ Genesis 15:6