Romans 4:2,13-15
Romans 4:2 King James Version (KJV)
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Romans 4:13-15 King James Version (KJV)
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Romans 4:2 New International Version (NIV)
If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.
Romans 4:13-15 New International Version (NIV)
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
Romans 4:2 New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
Romans 4:13-15 New Living Translation (NLT)
Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)
Romans 4:2 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Romans 4:13-15 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
Romans 4:1-3 The Message (MSG)
So how do we fit what we know of Abraham, our first father in the faith, into this new way of looking at things? If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we’re given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story. What we read in Scripture is, “Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own.”
Romans 4:13-15-13-15 The Message (MSG)
That famous promise God gave Abraham—that he and his children would possess the earth—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God’s decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed. If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That’s not a holy promise; that’s a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God’s promise at that—you can’t break it.
Romans 4:2 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Romans 4:13-15 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not 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 nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
Romans 4:2 New Century Version (NCV)
If Abraham was made right by the things he did, he had a reason to brag. But this is not God’s view
Romans 4:13-15 New Century Version (NCV)
Abraham and his descendants received the promise that they would get the whole world. He did not receive that promise through the law, but through being right with God by his faith. If people could receive what God promised by following the law, then faith is worthless. And God’s promise to Abraham is worthless, because the law can only bring God’s anger. But if there is no law, there is nothing to disobey.
Romans 4:2 American Standard Version (ASV)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.
Romans 4:13-15 American Standard Version (ASV)
For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
Romans 4:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Romans 4:13-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed 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 made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
Romans 4:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For if Abraham was justified [that is, acquitted from the guilt of his sins] by works [those things he did that were good], he has something to boast about, but not before God.
Romans 4:13-15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through [observing the requirements of] the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. [Gen 17:4-6; 22:16-18] If those who are [followers] of the Law are [the true] heirs [of Abraham], then faith [leading to salvation] is of no effect and void, and the promise [of God] is nullified. For the Law results in [God’s] wrath [against sin], but where there is no law, there is no violation [of it either].
Romans 4:2 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Was it by his good works of keeping the law? No. For if it was by the things he did, he would have something to boast about, but no one boasts before God.
Romans 4:13-15 The Passion Translation (TPT)
God promised Abraham and his descendants that they would have an heir who would reign over the world. This royal promise was not fulfilled because Abraham kept all the law, but through the righteousness that was transferred by faith. For if keeping the law earns the inheritance, then faith is robbed of its power and the promise becomes useless. For the law provokes punishment, and where no law exists there cannot be a violation of the law.