Romans 4

The Example of Abraham

1What then are we to say was gained by#4.1 Other ancient authorities read say about Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2#1 Cor 1.31For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3#Gen 15.6; Gal 3.6; Jas 2.23For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed#4.3 Or trusted in God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4#Rom 11.6Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 6So also David pronounces a blessing on those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:

7 # Ps 32.1, 2 “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven

and whose sins are covered;

8blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.”

9Is this blessing, then, pronounced only on the circumcised or also on the uncircumcised? We say, “Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.” 10How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after but before he was circumcised. 11#Gen 17.10; Lk 19.9He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith#4.11 Or trust while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe#4.11 Or trust without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, 12and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.

God’s Promise Realized through Faith

13 # Gen 17.4–6; Gal 3.29 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15#Rom 3.20; 7.8, 10, 11; Gal 3.10For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

16 # Rom 3.24; 9.8; 15.8 For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, 17#Gen 17.5; 1 Cor 1.28as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed,#4.17 Or trusted who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So shall your descendants be.” 19#Gen 17.17; Heb 11.11, 12He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already#4.19 Other ancient authorities lack already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21#Gen 18.14; Heb 11.19being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore “it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 23#Rom 15.4; 1 Cor 9.10; 10.11Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone 24#Acts 2.24; Rom 10.9but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe#4.24 Or trust in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25#Isa 53.5, 6; 1 Cor 15.17; 2 Cor 5.21who was handed over for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

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Romans 4: NRSVUE

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