Add parallel Print Page Options

El ejemplo de Abraham

¿Qué, pues, diremos que halló Abraham, nuestro padre según la carne? Porque si Abraham fue justificado por las obras, tiene de qué gloriarse, pero no para con Dios. Porque ¿qué dice la Escritura? Creyó Abraham a Dios, y le fue contado por justicia.(A) Pero al que obra, no se le cuenta el salario como gracia, sino como deuda; mas al que no obra, sino cree en aquel que justifica al impío, su fe le es contada por justicia. Como también David habla de la bienaventuranza del hombre a quien Dios atribuye justicia sin obras, diciendo:

Bienaventurados aquellos cuyas iniquidades son perdonadas,

Y cuyos pecados son cubiertos.

Bienaventurado el varón a quien el Señor no inculpa de pecado.(B)

¿Es, pues, esta bienaventuranza solamente para los de la circuncisión, o también para los de la incircuncisión? Porque decimos que a Abraham le fue contada la fe por justicia. 10 ¿Cómo, pues, le fue contada? ¿Estando en la circuncisión, o en la incircuncisión? No en la circuncisión, sino en la incircuncisión. 11 Y recibió la circuncisión(C) como señal, como sello de la justicia de la fe que tuvo estando aún incircunciso; para que fuese padre de todos los creyentes no circuncidados, a fin de que también a ellos la fe les sea contada por justicia; 12 y padre de la circuncisión, para los que no solamente son de la circuncisión, sino que también siguen las pisadas de la fe que tuvo nuestro padre Abraham antes de ser circuncidado.

La promesa realizada mediante la fe

13 Porque no por la ley fue dada a Abraham o a su descendencia la promesa de que sería heredero del mundo,(D) sino por la justicia de la fe. 14 Porque si los que son de la ley son los herederos, vana resulta la fe, y anulada la promesa.(E) 15 Pues la ley produce ira; pero donde no hay ley, tampoco hay transgresión.

16 Por tanto, es por fe, para que sea por gracia, a fin de que la promesa sea firme para toda su descendencia; no solamente para la que es de la ley, sino también para la que es de la fe de Abraham, el cual es padre de todos nosotros(F) 17 (como está escrito: Te he puesto por padre de muchas gentes(G)) delante de Dios, a quien creyó, el cual da vida a los muertos, y llama las cosas que no son, como si fuesen. 18 Él creyó en esperanza contra esperanza, para llegar a ser padre de muchas gentes, conforme a lo que se le había dicho: Así será tu descendencia.(H) 19 Y no se debilitó en la fe al considerar su cuerpo, que estaba ya como muerto (siendo de casi cien años(I)), o la esterilidad de la matriz de Sara. 20 Tampoco dudó, por incredulidad, de la promesa de Dios, sino que se fortaleció en fe, dando gloria a Dios, 21 plenamente convencido de que era también poderoso para hacer todo lo que había prometido; 22 por lo cual también su fe le fue contada por justicia. 23 Y no solamente con respecto a él se escribió que le fue contada, 24 sino también con respecto a nosotros a quienes ha de ser contada, esto es, a los que creemos en el que levantó de los muertos a Jesús, Señor nuestro, 25 el cual fue entregado por nuestras transgresiones, y resucitado para nuestra justificación.

¿QUÉ, pues, diremos que halló Abraham nuestro padre según la carne?

Que si Abraham fué justificado por la obras, tiene de qué gloriarse; mas no para con Dios.

Porque ¿qué dice la Escritura? Y creyó Abraham á Dios, y le fué atribuído á justicia.

Empero al que obra, no se le cuenta el salario por merced, sino por deuda.

Mas al que no obra, pero cree en aquél que justifica al impío, la fe le es contada por justicia.

Como también David dice ser bienaventurado el hombre al cual Dios atribuye justicia sin obras,

Diciendo: Bienaventurados aquellos cuyas iniquidades son perdonadas, Y cuyos pecados son cubiertos.

Bienaventurado el varón al cual el Señor no imputó pecado.

¿Es pues esta bienaventuranza solamente en la circuncisión ó también en la incircuncisión? porque decimos que á Abraham fué contada la fe por justicia.

10 ¿Cómo pues le fué contada? ¿en la circuncisión, ó en la incircuncisión? No en la circuncisión, sino en la incircuncisión.

11 Y recibió la circuncisión por señal, por sello de la justicia de la fe que tuvo en la incircuncisión: para que fuese padre de todos los creyentes no circuncidados, para que también á ellos les sea contado por justicia;

12 Y padre de la circuncisión, no solamente á los que son de la circuncisión, más también á los que siguen las pisadas de la fe que fué en nuestro padre Abraham antes de ser circuncidado.

13 Porque no por la ley fué dada la promesa á Abraham ó á su simiente, que sería heredero del mundo, sino por la justicia de la fe.

14 Porque si los que son de la ley son los herederos, vana es la fe, y anulada es la promesa.

15 Porque la ley obra ira; porque donde no hay ley, tampoco hay transgresión.

16 Por tanto es por la fe, para que sea por gracia; para que la promesa sea firme á toda simiente, no solamente al que es de la ley, mas también al que es de la fe de Abraham, el cual es padre de todos nosotros.

17 (Como está escrito: Que por padre de muchas gentes te he puesto) delante de Dios, al cual creyó; el cual da vida á los muertos, y llama las cosas que no son, como las que son.

18 El creyó en esperanza contra esperanza, para venir á ser padre de muchas gentes, conforme á lo que le había sido dicho: Así será tu simiente.

19 Y no se enflaqueció en la fe, ni consideró su cuerpo ya muerto (siendo ya de casi cien años,) ni la matriz muerta de Sara;

20 Tampoco en la promesa de Dios dudó con desconfianza: antes fué esforzado en fe, dando gloria á Dios,

21 Plenamente convencido de que todo lo que había prometido, era también poderoso para hacerlo.

22 Por lo cual también le fué atribuído á justicia.

23 Y no solamente por él fué escrito que le haya sido imputado;

24 Sino también por nosotros, á quienes será imputado, esto es, á los que creemos en el que levantó de los muertos á Jesús Señor nuestro,

25 El cual fué entregado por nuestros delitos, y resucitado para nuestra justificación

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 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.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; 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,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather [a]humanly speaking, has found? [Has he obtained a favored standing?] 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. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed in (trusted, relied on) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living, right standing with God).”(A) Now to a laborer, his wages are not credited as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation [something owed to him]. But to the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is [b]credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). And in this same way David speaks of the blessing on the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:


Blessed and happy and favored are those whose lawless acts have been forgiven,
And whose sins have been covered up and completely buried.

Blessed and happy and favored is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account nor charge against him.”(B)

Is this blessing only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it credited [to him]? Was it after he had been circumcised, or before? Not after, but while [he was] uncircumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal or confirmation of the righteousness which he had by faith while [he was still] uncircumcised—this was so that he would be the [spiritual] father of all who believe without being circumcised—so that righteousness would be credited to them, 12 and [that he would be] the [spiritual] father of those circumcised who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had before he was circumcised.

13 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.(C) 14 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. 15 For the Law results in [God’s] wrath [against sin], but where there is no law, there is no violation [of it either].

16 Therefore, [inheriting] the promise depends entirely on faith [that is, confident trust in the unseen God], in order that it may be given as an act of grace [His unmerited favor and mercy], so that the promise will be [legally] guaranteed to all the descendants [of Abraham]—not only for those [Jewish believers] who keep the Law, but also for those [Gentile believers] who share the faith of Abraham, who is the [spiritual] father of us all— 17 (as it is written [in Scripture], “I have made you a father of many nations) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God [c]who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.(D) 18 In hope against hope Abraham believed that he would become a father of many nations, as he had been promised [by God]: “So [numberless] shall your descendants be.”(E) 19 Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now as good as dead [for producing children] since he was about a hundred years old, and [he considered] the deadness of Sarah’s womb.(F) 20 But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised. 22 Therefore his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).(G) 23 Now not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also—to whom righteousness will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead— 25 who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God].

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:1 Lit according to the flesh.
  2. Romans 4:5 Faith is not an equivalent or substitute for righteousness, but God graciously treats it as if it were the same. Otherwise, no one could be saved from sin and have eternal life.
  3. Romans 4:17 A reference to both the birth of Isaac, and the resurrection of Christ.