Romans 4
King James Version
4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 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.
Romans 4
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abraham Justified by Faith
4 What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor,[a](A) has found? 2 If Abraham was justified[b] by works,(B) he has something to brag about—but not before God.[c] 3 For what does the Scripture say?
4 Now to the one who works,(D) pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous,[e](E) his faith is credited for righteousness.
David Celebrating the Same Truth
6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works:
7 How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered!
8 How joyful is the man
the Lord will never charge with sin!(F)[f]
Abraham Justified before Circumcision
9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised,(G) then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.(H)[g] 10 In what way then was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision(I) as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith[h](J) while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father(K) of all who believe(L) but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. 12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.
The Promise Granted through Faith
13 For the promise to Abraham(M) or to his descendants that he would inherit the world(N) was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.[i] 14 If those who are of the law are heirs,(O) faith is made empty and the promise is canceled. 15 For the law produces wrath.(P) And where there is no law,(Q) there is no transgression.
16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,(R) to guarantee it to all the descendants(S)—not only to those who are of the law[j] but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all 17 in God’s sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations.(T)[k] He believed in God, who gives life to the dead(U) and calls(V) things into existence that do not exist.(W) 18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations(X)[l] according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.(Y)[m] 19 He considered[n] his own body to be already dead(Z) (since he was about 100 years old)(AA) and also considered the deadness of Sarah’s womb,(AB) without weakening in the faith. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,(AC) 21 because he was fully convinced(AD) that what He had promised He was also able to perform.(AE) 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.(AF)[o] 23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,(AG) 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him(AH) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(AI) 25 He was delivered up for[p] our trespasses(AJ) and raised for[q] our justification.[r](AK)
Footnotes
- Romans 4:1 Lit our ancestor according to the flesh
- Romans 4:2 Or was declared righteous, or was acquitted
- Romans 4:2 He has no reason for boasting in God’s presence.
- Romans 4:3 Gn 15:6
- Romans 4:5 Or who acquits, or who justifies
- Romans 4:8 Ps 32:1-2
- Romans 4:9 Gn 15:6
- Romans 4:11 Lit righteousness of faith
- Romans 4:13 Lit righteousness of faith
- Romans 4:16 Or not to those who are of the law only
- Romans 4:17 Gn 17:5
- Romans 4:18 Gn 17:5
- Romans 4:18 Gn 15:5
- Romans 4:19 Other mss read He did not consider
- Romans 4:22 Gn 15:6
- Romans 4:25 Or because of
- Romans 4:25 Or because of
- Romans 4:25 Or acquittal
Romans 4
Darby Translation
4 What shall we say then that Abraham our father according to flesh has found?
2 For if Abraham has been justified on the principle of works, he has whereof to boast: but not before God;
3 for what does the scripture say? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
4 Now to him that works the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but of debt:
5 but to him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
6 Even as David also declares the blessedness of the man to whom God reckons righteousness without works:
7 Blessed [they] whose lawlessnesses have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered:
8 blessed [the] man to whom [the] Lord shall not at all reckon sin.
9 [Does] this blessedness then [rest] on the circumcision, or also on the uncircumcision? For we say that faith has been reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.
10 How then has it been reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received [the] sign of circumcision [as] seal of the righteousness of faith which [he had] being in uncircumcision, that he might be [the] father of all them that believe being in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned to them also;
12 and father of circumcision, not only to those who are of [the] circumcision, but to those also who walk in the steps of the faith, during uncircumcision, of our father Abraham.
13 For [it was] not by law that the promise was to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of [the] world, but by righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which [are] of law be heirs, faith is made vain, and the promise made of no effect.
15 For law works wrath; but where no law is neither [is there] transgression.
16 Therefore [it is] on the principle of faith, that [it might be] according to grace, in order to the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that only which [is] of the law, but to that also which [is] of Abraham's faith, who is father of us all,
17 (according as it is written, I have made thee father of many nations,) before the God whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls the things which be not as being;
18 who against hope believed in hope to his becoming father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be:
19 and not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body already become dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadening of Sarah's womb,
20 and hesitated not at the promise of God through unbelief; but found strength in faith, giving glory to God;
21 and being fully persuaded that what he has promised he is able also to do;
22 wherefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
23 Now it was not written on his account alone that it was reckoned to him,
24 but on ours also, to whom, believing on him who has raised from among [the] dead Jesus our Lord,
25 who has been delivered for our offences and has been raised for our justification, it will be reckoned.
Romans 4
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
4 What tis then oun shall we say legō that Abraham Abraam, · ho our hēmeis forefather propatōr according kata to the flesh sarx, has discovered heuriskō about this? 2 For gar if ei Abraham Abraam was justified dikaioō by ek works ergon, he has echō something to boast kauchēma about ( but alla not ou before pros God theos). 3 For gar what tis does the ho scripture graphē say legō? “ And de Abraham Abraam believed pisteuō · ho God theos, and kai it was credited logizomai to him autos as eis righteousness dikaiosynē.” 4 Now de to the ho one who works ergazomai, his ho wages misthos are not ou credited logizomai as kata a gift charis, but alla as kata an obligation opheilēma. 5 But de to the ho one who does not mē work ergazomai, but de entrusts pisteuō himself to epi the ho one who justifies dikaioō the ho ungodly asebēs, his autos faith pistis is credited logizomai · ho as eis righteousness dikaiosynē. 6 So kathaper also kai David Dauid speaks legō of the ho blessedness makarismos of the ho one anthrōpos to whom hos · ho God theos credits logizomai righteousness dikaiosynē apart chōris from works ergon: 7 “ Blessed makarios are those whose hos lawless deeds anomia are forgiven aphiēmi, · ho and kai whose hos sins hamartia are covered epikalyptō. · ho 8 Blessed makarios is the man anēr whose hos sin hamartia the Lord kyrios will not ou mē take logizomai into account .” 9 · ho Therefore oun, is this houtos blessedness makarismos for epi the ho circumcised peritomē alone, or ē is it also kai for epi the ho uncircumcised akrobystia? For gar we say legō, “It was to ho Abraham Abraam that ho faith pistis was credited logizomai as eis righteousness dikaiosynē.” 10 How pōs then oun was it credited logizomai to him? Was it after en he was eimi circumcised peritomē or ē before en akrobystia? It was not ou after en his circumcision peritomē but alla before en akrobystia. 11 · kai He received lambanō the sign sēmeion of circumcision peritomē as a seal sphragis of the ho righteousness dikaiosynē that he had by ho faith pistis · ho while he was still en · ho uncircumcised akrobystia, so eis that he autos would be eimi the father patēr of all pas who ho believe pisteuō but have never been circumcised dia, that eis they too kai might have righteousness dikaiosynē credited logizomai to them autos. · ho 12 He is also kai the father patēr of the circumcised peritomē who ho are not ou merely monon circumcised peritomē but alla also kai · ho walk stoicheō in the ho footsteps ichnos of the ho faith pistis that · ho our hēmeis father patēr Abraham Abraam had while he was still en uncircumcised akrobystia.
13 For gar the ho promise epangelia that he autos would be eimi heir klēronomos of kosmos the world kosmos did not ou come to ho Abraham Abraam or ē to ho his autos descendants sperma through dia the law nomos, · ho but alla through dia the righteousness dikaiosynē of faith pistis. 14 For gar if ei the ho heirs klēronomos are those who follow ek the law nomos, then faith pistis is meaningless kenoō · ho and kai the ho promise epangelia is void katargeō. 15 For gar the ho Law nomos brings about katergazomai wrath orgē, but de where hou there is eimi no ou law nomos, there can be no oude violation parabasis. 16 For dia this houtos reason the ho promise epangelia is based ek on faith pistis, that hina it may depend kata on grace charis and so eis that it may be eimi made certain bebaios to all pas his ho descendants sperma, not ou only monon to those ho who are under ek the ho law nomos, but alla also kai to those ho who share ek the faith pistis of Abraham Abraam, who hos is eimi the father patēr of us hēmeis all pas. 17 As kathōs it is written graphō, “ I have made tithēmi you sy the father patēr of many polys nations ethnos.” He is our father, in the presence katenanti of God theos in pisteuō whom hos he believed pisteuō, the ho God who gives zōiopoieō life to the ho dead nekros and kai calls kaleō into hōs being eimi the ho things that do not mē exist eimi. 18 Hoping elpis against epi hope elpis, Abraham hos believed pisteuō that eis he autos would become ginomai the father patēr of many polys nations ethnos according kata to what ho had been spoken legō, “ So houtōs will your sy descendants sperma be eimi.” · ho 19 · kai Not mē being weak astheneō in ho faith pistis, he considered katanoeō · ho his heautou own body sōma as dead nekroō ( since he was hyparchō about pou a hundred hekatontaetēs years old ), and kai the ho barrenness nekrōsis of ho Sarah’ s Sarra womb mētra. 20 He did diakrinō not ou waver diakrinō in ho unbelief apistia regarding eis · de the ho promise epangelia of ho God theos but alla was strengthened endynamoō in ho faith pistis, giving didōmi glory doxa to ho God theos, 21 · kai fully plērophoreō convinced that hoti what hos God had promised epangellomai, he was eimi also kai able dynatos to do poieō. 22 That dio is why · kai his faith was credited logizomai to him autos as eis righteousness dikaiosynē. 23 But de the statement, “ it was credited logizomai to him autos,” was not ou written graphō for dia his autos sake alone monon, 24 but alla for dia our hēmeis sake dia as kai well , to whom hos it will mellō be credited logizomai, those ho who believe pisteuō in epi the ho one who raised egeirō Jesus Iēsous · ho our hēmeis Lord kyrios from ek the dead nekros, 25 who hos was delivered paradidōmi over to death for dia · ho our hēmeis transgressions paraptōma and kai raised egeirō for dia · ho our hēmeis justification dikaiōsis.
Romans 4
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
What About Abraham?
4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according-to[a] the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was declared-righteous by works, he has a boast— but not before God.
His Righteousness Came By Faith
3 For what does the Scripture say?— “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness” [Gen 15:6]. 4 Now to the one working, the wages are not credited to him based-on grace, but based on debt. 5 But to the one not working but putting-faith upon the One declaring the ungodly righteous— his faith is credited for righteousness. 6 Just as David also says [in Ps 32:1-2] as to the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are the ones whose lawless-deeds were forgiven and whose sins were covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count”.
This Occurred Prior To Circumcision
9 So is this blessedness upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say “Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness”. 10 How then was it credited— to one being 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 [b] faith while in uncircumcision, so that he might be[c] the father of all the ones believing through uncircumcision— so that righteousness might be credited also to them— 12 and the father of the circumcised to the ones not of circumcision only, but indeed the ones walking-in-line in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham while he was in uncircumcision.
The Promise Was Not Through The Law But Faith, Making It Firm To All
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his seed[d] that he should be the inheritor of the world was not through the Law[e], but through the righteousness of faith! 14 For if the ones of the Law are inheritors, faith has been made-empty[f] and the promise has been nullified[g]. 15 For the Law brings-about wrath. But where there is no Law, neither is there transgression[h]. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be based on grace, so that the promise might be firm[i] to all the seed— not to the seed of the Law only[j], but also to the seed of the faith of Abraham,
Abraham Is The Father of All Who Believe
... who is the father of us all— 17 just as it has been written [in Gen 17:5] that “I have made you a father of many nations”— before God[k] Whom he believed, the One giving-life-to the dead and calling the things not being as[l] being,
He Believed God’s Promise, Contrary To All His Human Circumstances
18 ... who believed contrary-to[m] hope, upon hope, so that he might become[n] the father of many nations in accordance with the thing having been spoken [in Gen 15:5]: “So shall your seed be”. 19 And not having weakened in faith, he considered[o] his own body already having become impotent[p], being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of the womb of Sarah. 20 But he did not waver in unbelief with reference to the promise of God, but became-strong in faith— having given glory to God, 21 and having been fully-convinced that what He had promised He was able also to do.
His Faith Was Credited To Him As Righteousness, And So Is Ours
22 Therefore indeed it was credited to him for righteousness. 23 And it was not written for his sake only that it was credited to him, 24 but also for our sake to whom it is going-to be credited— the ones putting-faith upon the One having raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 Who was handed-over for[q] our trespasses and was raised for[r] our justification.
Footnotes
- Romans 4:1 Or, with respect to. Or, our forefather, has found according to the flesh (that is, by works)?
- Romans 4:11 Or, by faith; or, his faith-righteousness.
- Romans 4:11 That is, from his viewpoint. Or, so that he is (from our viewpoint).
- Romans 4:13 That is, his believing offspring, his spiritual descendants, v 11-12.
- Romans 4:13 Or, law, depending on whether Paul is speaking from the viewpoint of Abraham (who lived before the Law) or his seed (who lived under it).
- Romans 4:14 Or, voided. That is, emptied of any value or place.
- Romans 4:14 The promise of a free gift is nullified, since obedience would be required to obtain it.
- Romans 4:15 Or, violation. There is no law to violate in connection with the promise of a gift, so there can be no transgression and no wrath.
- Romans 4:16 Or, secure, certain.
- Romans 4:16 That is, to people like Paul; believing Jews.
- Romans 4:17 Abraham is the spiritual father of us all before God.
- Romans 4:17 Or, as-if. That is, calling the things not being [into] being, in an act of creation, as seen in the birth of Isaac. Or, calling/naming the things not [yet] being as-if being, as if they already existed, as when He calls Abraham the father of many nations when he had no child.
- Romans 4:18 Or, against, beyond. That is, contrary to all human hope could offer, upon the hope God promised.
- Romans 4:18 That is, from his viewpoint. Or, so that he became (from our viewpoint).
- Romans 4:19 Some manuscripts say ‘he did not consider’.
- Romans 4:19 Or, dead, as good as dead, lifeless, with regard to procreation.
- Romans 4:25 Or, for the sake of, because of.
- Romans 4:25 Or, for the sake of, because of.
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Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
