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The Example of Abraham

So what can we say about Abraham,[a] the father of our people? What did he learn about faith? If Abraham was made right by the things he did, then he had a reason to brag. But he could not brag before God. The Scripture says, “Abraham believed God. And that faith made him right with God.”[b]

When a person works, his pay is not given to him as a gift. He earns the pay he gets. But a person cannot do any work that will make him right with God. So he must trust in God. Then God accepts his faith, and that makes him right with God. God is the One who can make even those who are evil right in his sight. David said the same thing. He said that a person is truly blessed when God does not look at what he has done but accepts him as good:

“Happy are they
    whose sins are forgiven,
    whose wrongs are pardoned.
Happy is the person
    whom the Lord does not consider guilty.” Psalm 32:1-2

Is this blessing only for those who are circumcised? Or is it also for those who are not circumcised? We have already said that God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God. 10 So how did this happen? Did God accept Abraham before or after he was circumcised? God accepted him before his circumcision. 11 Abraham was circumcised later to show that God accepted him. His circumcision was proof that he was right with God through faith before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the father of all those who believe but are not circumcised. He is the father of all believers who are accepted as being right with God. 12 And Abraham is also the father of those who have been circumcised. But it is not their circumcision that makes him their father. He is their father only if they live following the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

God Keeps His Promise

13 Abraham[c] and his descendants received the promise that they would get the whole world. But Abraham did not receive that promise through the law. He received it because he was right with God through his faith. 14 If people could receive what God promised by following the law, then faith is worthless. And God’s promise to Abraham is worthless, 15 because the law can only bring God’s anger. But if there is no law, then there is nothing to disobey.

16 So people receive God’s promise by having faith. This happens so that the promise can be a free gift. And if the promise is a free gift, then all of Abraham’s children can have that promise. The promise is not only for those people that live under the law of Moses. It is for anyone who lives with faith like Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written in the Scriptures: “I am making you a father of many nations.”[d] This is true before God. Abraham believed in God—the God who gives life to the dead and decides that things will happen that have not yet happened.

18 There was no hope that Abraham would have children. But Abraham believed God and continued hoping. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “Your descendants will also be too many to count.”[e] 19 Abraham was almost 100 years old, much past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham thought about all this. But his faith in God did not become weak. 20 He never doubted that God would keep his promise. Abraham never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God. 21 Abraham felt sure that God was able to do the thing that God promised. 22 So, “God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that made him right with God.”[f] 23 Those words (“God accepted Abraham’s faith”) were written not only for Abraham. 24 They were written also for us. God will accept us also because we believe. We believe in the One who raised Jesus our Lord from death. 25 Jesus was given to die for our sins. And he was raised from death to make us right with God.

Footnotes

  1. 4:1, 13 Abraham Most respected ancestor of the Jews. Every Jew hoped to see Abraham.
  2. 4:3 “Abraham . . . God.” Quotation from Genesis 15:6.
  3. 4:1, 13 Abraham Most respected ancestor of the Jews. Every Jew hoped to see Abraham.
  4. 4:17 “I . . . nations.” Quotation from Genesis 17:5.
  5. 4:18 “Your . . . count.” Quotation from Genesis 15:5.
  6. 4:22 “God . . . God.” Quotation from Genesis 15:6.

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say(A) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(B) discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(C) What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](D)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(E) but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(F) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b](G)

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?(H) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.(I) 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(J) So then, he is the father(K) of all who believe(L) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

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

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(S) and may be guaranteed(T) 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.(U) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c](V) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(W) to the dead and calls(X) into being things that were not.(Y)

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

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  2. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
  3. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  4. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5

亞伯拉罕因信稱義

那麼,論到在血統(“血統”原文作“肉身”)上作我們祖先的亞伯拉罕所經驗的,我們可以說甚麼呢? 亞伯拉罕若是因行為稱義,就有可誇的,只是不能在 神面前誇口。 經上怎麼樣說呢?“亞伯拉罕信 神,這就算為他的義。” 作工的得工資,不算是恩典,是他應得的。 可是,那不作工而只信那稱不敬虔的人為義的 神的,他的信就算為義了。 大衛也是這樣說,那不靠行為而蒙 神算為義的人是有福的! “過犯得蒙赦免,罪惡得到遮蓋的人,是有福的; 主不算為有罪的,這人是有福的。” 這樣看來,那有福的人,是指受割禮的呢,還是也指沒有受割禮的呢?因為我們說:“亞伯拉罕的信算為他的義。” 10 那麼,是怎樣算的呢?是在他受割禮以後呢,還是在他受割禮之前呢?不是在他受割禮以後,而是在他受了割禮以前。 11 他領受了割禮為記號,作他受割禮之前因信稱義的印證,使他作所有沒有受割禮而信之人的父,使他們也被算為義; 12 又作受割禮之人的父,就是作那些不僅受割禮,並且照著我們祖宗亞伯拉罕未受割禮時就信的那腳蹤而行之人的父。

 神應許的他必能成就

13 原來 神給亞伯拉罕和他後裔承受世界的應許,並不是因著律法,而是藉著因信而來的義。 14 如果屬於律法的人才能成為後嗣,信就沒有作用,應許也就落空了。 15 因為律法帶來刑罰,沒有律法,就沒有違背律法的事。

16 所以,成為後嗣是因著信,為的是要按著 神的恩典,使給所有後裔的應許堅定不移,不但臨到那屬於律法的人,也臨到那效法亞伯拉罕而信的人。亞伯拉罕在 神面前作我們眾人的父, 17 如經上所記:“我已經立了你作萬國的父。”他所信的,是叫死人得生命、使無變為有的 神。 18 在他沒有盼望的時候,仍然懷著盼望去信,因此就成了萬國的父,正如 神所說:“你的後裔將要這樣眾多。” 19 他快到一百歲的時候,想到自己的身體好像已經死了,撒拉也不能生育,他的信心還是不軟弱, 20 也沒有因著不信而疑惑 神的應許,反倒堅信不移,把榮耀歸給 神, 21 滿心相信 神所應許的, 神必能成就。 22 因此,這就算為他的義。 23 “算為他的義”這一句話,不是單為他寫的, 24 也是為我們這將來得算為義的人寫的,就是為我們這信 神使我們的主耶穌從死人中復活的人寫的。 25 耶穌為我們的過犯被交去處死,為我們的稱義而復活。

Abraão como exemplo de fé

Do ponto de vista humano, Abraão foi o fundador de nossa nação. O que descobriu ele? Se suas boas obras o tivessem tornado justo, ele teria motivo para se vangloriar, mas não perante Deus. Pois as Escrituras dizem: “Abraão creu em Deus, e assim foi considerado justo”.[a]

O salário daquele que trabalha não é um presente, mas um direito. Contudo, ninguém é considerado justo com base em seu trabalho, mas sim por meio de sua fé em Deus, que declara justos os pecadores. Davi também falou a esse respeito quando descreveu a felicidade daqueles que são considerados justos sem terem trabalhado para isso:

“Como são felizes aqueles
cuja desobediência é perdoada,
cujos pecados são cobertos!
Sim, como são felizes aqueles
cujo pecado o Senhor não leva mais em conta!”.[b]

Por acaso essa bênção é apenas para os judeus, ou se estende também aos gentios incircuncidados?[c] Já dissemos que Deus considerou Abraão justo por meio de sua fé. 10 Mas como isso aconteceu? Ele foi considerado justo somente depois de ter sido circuncidado, ou antes disso? Está claro que foi antes de ele ser circuncidado.

11 A circuncisão era um sinal de que Abraão já possuía fé e de que Deus já o havia declarado justo, mesmo antes de ele ser circuncidado. Portanto, Abraão é o pai daqueles que têm fé mas não foram circuncidados. Eles são considerados justos por causa de sua fé. 12 E Abraão também é o pai daqueles que foram circuncidados, mas somente se tiverem o mesmo tipo de fé que Abraão tinha antes de ser circuncidado.

13 A promessa de que Abraão e seus descendentes herdariam toda a terra não se baseou em sua obediência à lei de Deus, mas sim no fato de ele ter sido considerado justo quando teve fé. 14 Portanto, se a herança prometida é apenas para aqueles que obedecem à lei, a fé é desnecessária, e a promessa, anulada. 15 Pois a lei traz ira sobre aqueles que tentam obedecer a ela. A única forma de não quebrar a lei é não ter lei nenhuma para quebrar!

16 É por isso que a promessa vem pela fé, para que ela seja segundo a graça e, assim, alcance toda a descendência de Abraão, não somente os que vivem sob a lei, mas todos que têm fé como a que teve Abraão. Pois ele é o pai de todos que creem. 17 Conforme aparece nas Escrituras: “Eu o fiz pai de muitas nações”.[d] Isso aconteceu porque Abraão creu no Deus que traz os mortos de volta à vida e cria coisas novas do nada.

18 Mesmo quando não havia motivo para ter esperança, Abraão a manteve, crendo que se tornaria o pai de muitas nações. Pois Deus lhe tinha dito: “Esse é o número de descendentes que você terá!”.[e] 19 E sua fé não se enfraqueceu, embora ele soubesse que, aos cem anos, seu corpo, bem como o ventre de Sara, já não tinham vigor.

20 Em nenhum momento a fé de Abraão na promessa de Deus vacilou. Na verdade, ela se fortaleceu e, com isso, ele deu glória a Deus. 21 Abraão estava plenamente convicto de que Deus é poderoso para cumprir tudo que promete. 22 Por isso, por sua fé, ele foi considerado justo. 23 E, quando Deus considerou Abraão justo, não o fez apenas para benefício dele. As Escrituras dizem 24 que foi também para nosso benefício, pois elas garantem que também seremos considerados justos por crermos naquele que ressuscitou dos mortos a Jesus, nosso Senhor. 25 Ele foi entregue à morte por causa de nossos pecados e foi ressuscitado para que fôssemos declarados justos diante de Deus.

Footnotes

  1. 4.3 Gn 15.6.
  2. 4.7-8 Sl 32.1-2, conforme a Septuaginta.
  3. 4.9 Em grego, essa bênção é apenas para os circuncidados, ou é também para os incircuncidados?
  4. 4.17 Gn 17.5.
  5. 4.18 Gn 15.5.