The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

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- Chapter 4 -

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

What shall we say then, that Abraham our father hath found concerning the flesh?

For if Abraham were iustified by workes, he hath wherein to reioyce, but not with God.

For what saith the Scripture? Abraham beleeued God, and it was counted to him for righteousnesse.

Nowe to him that worketh, the wages is not counted by fauour, but by dette:

But to him that worketh not, but beleeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly, his faith is counted for righteousnesse.

Euen as Dauid declareth the blessednesse of the man, vnto whom God imputeth righteousnes without workes, saying,

Blessed are they, whose iniquities are forgiuen, and whose sinnes are couered.

Blessed is the man, to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne.

Came this blessednesse then vpon the circumcision onely, or vpon the vncircumcision also? For we say, that faith was imputed vnto Abraham for righteousnesse.

Howe was it then imputed? when he was circumcised, or vncircumcised? not when he was cricumcised, but when he was vncircumcised.

After, he receiued the signe of circumcision, as the seale of the righteousnesse of ye faith which he had, when he was vncircumcised, that he should be the father of all them that beleeue, not being circumcised, that righteousnesse might be imputed to them also,

And the father of circumcision, not vnto them onely which are of the circumcision, but vnto them also that walke in the steppes of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had when he was vncircumcised.

Abraham Receives the Promise

(Genesis 15:8–21)

For the promise that he should be the heire of the worlde, was not giuen to Abraham, or to his seede, through the Lawe, but through the righteousnesse of faith.

For if they which are of the Lawe, be heires, faith is made voide, and the promise is made of none effect.

For the Lawe causeth wrath: for where no Lawe is, there is no transgression.

Therefore it is by faith, that it might come by grace, and the promise might be sure to all the seede, not to that onely which is of the Lawe: but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of vs all,

(As it is written, I haue made thee a father of many nations) euen before God whom he beleeued, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those thinges which be not, as though they were.

Which Abraham aboue hope, beleeued vnder hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him, So shall thy seede be.

And he not weake in the faith, considered not his owne bodie, which was nowe dead, being almost an hundreth yeere olde, neither the deadnes of Saraes wombe.

Neither did he doubt of the promise of God through vnbeliefe, but was strengthened in the faith, and gaue glorie to God,

Being fully assured that he which had promised, was also able to doe it.

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousnesse.

Nowe it is not written for him onely, that it was imputed to him for righteousnesse,

But also for vs, to whom it shalbe imputed for righteousnesse, which beleeue in him that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead,

Who was deliuered to death for our sinnes, and is risen againe for our iustification.

(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