The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For (A)the promise to Abraham and his offspring (B)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 (C)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For (D)the law brings wrath, but (E)where there is no law (F)there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, (G)in order that the promise may rest on grace and (H)be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, (I)who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, (J)“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, (K)who gives life to the dead and calls into existence (L)the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, (M)“So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was (N)as good as dead ((O)since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered (P)the barrenness[a] of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that (Q)God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But (R)the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us (S)who believe in (T)him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 (U)who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised (V)for our justification.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:19 Greek deadness

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(A) that he would be heir of the world,(B) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(C) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(D) 15 because the law brings wrath.(E) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(F)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(G) and may be guaranteed(H) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(I) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a](J) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(K) to the dead and calls(L) into being things that were not.(M)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(N) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[b](O) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(P)—since he was about a hundred years old(Q)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(R) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(S) in his faith and gave glory to God,(T) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(U) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(V) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(W) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(X) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(Y) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(Z) and was raised to life for our justification.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  2. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5

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.

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