Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close TLB

Romans 4
Living Bible

4 1-2 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, then he would have something to boast about. But from God’s point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. 3 For the Scriptures tell us Abraham believed God, and that is why God canceled his sins and declared him “not guilty.”

4-5 But didn’t he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did? No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn’t be free—but it is! It is given to those who do not work for it. For God declares sinners to be good in his sight if they have faith in Christ to save them from God’s wrath.[a]

6 King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared “not guilty”[b] by God. 7 “Blessed and to be envied,” he said, “are those whose sins are forgiven and put out of sight. 8 Yes, what joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted against him by the Lord.”[c]

9 Now then, the question: Is this blessing given only to those who have faith in Christ but also keep the Jewish laws, or is the blessing also given to those who do not keep the Jewish rules but only trust in Christ? Well, what about Abraham? We say that he received these blessings through his faith. Was it by faith alone, or because he also kept the Jewish rules?

10 For the answer to that question, answer this one: When did God give this blessing to Abraham? It was before he became a Jew—before he went through the Jewish initiation ceremony of circumcision.

11 It wasn’t until later on, after God had promised to bless him because of his faith, that he was circumcised. The circumcision ceremony was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him just and good in his sight—before the ceremony took place. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who believe and are saved without obeying Jewish laws. We see, then, that those who do not keep these rules are justified by God through faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those Jews who have been circumcised. They can see from his example that it is not this ceremony that saves them, for Abraham found favor with God by faith alone before he was circumcised.

13 It is clear, then, that God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not because Abraham obeyed God’s laws but because he trusted God to keep his promise. 14 So if you still claim that God’s blessings go to those who are “good enough,” then you are saying that God’s promises to those who have faith are meaningless, and faith is foolish. 15 But the fact of the matter is this: when we try to gain God’s blessing and salvation by keeping his laws we always end up under his anger, for we always fail to keep them. The only way we can keep from breaking laws is not to have any to break!

16 So God’s blessings are given to us by faith, as a free gift; we are certain to get them whether or not we follow Jewish customs if we have faith like Abraham’s, for Abraham is the father of us all when it comes to these matters of faith. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say that God made Abraham the father of many nations. God will accept all people in every nation who trust God as Abraham did. And this promise is from God himself, who makes the dead live again and speaks of future events with as much certainty as though they were already past.

18 So, when God told Abraham that he would give him a son who would have many descendants and become a great nation, Abraham believed God even though such a promise just couldn’t come to pass! 19 And because his faith was strong, he didn’t worry about the fact that he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred, and that Sarah his wife, at ninety,[d] was also much too old to have a baby.

20 But Abraham never doubted. He believed God, for his faith and trust grew ever stronger, and he praised God for this blessing even before it happened. 21 He was completely sure that God was well able to do anything he promised. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith God forgave his sins and declared him “not guilty.”

23 Now this wonderful statement—that he was accepted and approved through his faith—wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. 24 It was for us, too, assuring us that God will accept us in the same way he accepted Abraham—when we believe the promises of God who brought back Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God,[e] filling us with God’s goodness.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:4 if they have faith in Christ to save them from God’s wrath, literally, “faith is reckoned for righteousness.”
  2. Romans 4:6 “not guilty,” literally “righteous.”
  3. Romans 4:8 See Psalm 32:1-2.
  4. Romans 4:19 See Genesis 17:17.
  5. Romans 4:25 rose again to make us right with God, literally, “was raised for our justification.”
Listen to Romains 4
Close BDS

Romains 4
La Bible du Semeur

4 Prenons l’exemple d’Abraham, l’ancêtre de notre peuple, selon la descendance physique. Que pouvons-nous dire à son sujet ? Quelle a été son expérience ? 2 S’il a été déclaré juste en raison de ce qu’il a fait, alors certes, il peut se vanter. Mais ce n’est pas ainsi que Dieu voit la chose ! 3 En effet, que dit l’Ecriture ? Abraham a eu confiance en Dieu, et Dieu a porté sa foi à son crédit[a] pour le déclarer juste[b].

4 Si quelqu’un accomplit un travail, on lui compte son salaire non pas comme si on lui faisait une faveur, mais d’après ce qui lui est dû. 5 Et si quelqu’un n’accomplit pas les œuvres requises par la Loi mais place sa confiance en Dieu qui déclare justes les pécheurs, Dieu le déclare juste en portant sa foi à son crédit. 6 De même, David déclare béni l’homme que Dieu déclare juste sans qu’il ait produit les œuvres qu’exige la Loi :

7 Ils sont bénis, ceux dont les fautes ont été pardonnées
et dont les péchés ont été effacés !
8 Il est béni, l’homme au compte de qui
le Seigneur ne porte pas le péché[c] !

9 Cette bénédiction est-elle réservée aux seuls circoncis, ou est-elle aussi accessible aux incirconcis ? Nous venons de le dire : Dieu a porté la foi d’Abraham à son crédit pour le déclarer juste. 10 A quel moment cela a-t-il eu lieu ? Quand Abraham était circoncis ou quand il était encore incirconcis ? Ce n’est pas quand il était circoncis, mais quand il ne l’était pas encore. 11 Et Dieu lui donna ensuite le signe de la circoncision comme sceau de la justice qu’il avait déjà reçue par la foi avant d’être circoncis. Il est devenu ainsi le père de tous ceux qui croient sans être circoncis pour qu’eux aussi soient déclarés justes par Dieu de la même manière. 12 Il est aussi devenu le père des circoncis qui ne se contentent pas d’avoir la circoncision, mais qui suivent l’exemple de la foi que notre père Abraham a manifestée alors qu’il était encore incirconcis.

13 Car la promesse de recevoir le monde en héritage a été faite à Abraham ou à sa descendance non parce qu’il avait obéi à la Loi, mais parce que Dieu l’a déclaré juste à cause de sa foi. 14 En effet, s’il faut être sous le régime de la Loi[d] pour avoir droit à cet héritage, alors la foi n’a plus de sens et la promesse est annulée. 15 Car la Loi produit la colère de Dieu. Or, là où il n’y a pas de Loi, il n’y a pas non plus de transgression. 16 Voilà pourquoi l’héritage se reçoit par la foi : c’est pour qu’il soit un don de la grâce. Ainsi, la promesse se trouve confirmée à toute la descendance d’Abraham, c’est-à-dire non seulement à celle qui a la Loi, mais aussi à celle qui partage la foi d’Abraham. Il est notre père à tous, 17 comme le dit l’Ecriture : Je t’ai établi pour être le père d’une multitude de peuples[e]. Placé en présence de Dieu[f], il mit sa confiance en celui qui donne la vie aux morts et appelle à l’existence ce qui n’existe pas.

18 Alors que tout portait au contraire, il a eu confiance, plein d’espérance. Ainsi il est devenu le père d’une multitude de peuples[g] conformément à ce que Dieu lui avait dit : Tes descendants seront nombreux[h].

19 Bien qu’il considéra son corps, qui était comme mort – il avait presque cent ans – et celui de Sara, qui ne pouvait plus donner la vie, sa foi ne faiblit pas. 20 Au contraire : loin de mettre en doute la promesse et de refuser de croire, il trouva sa force dans la foi, en reconnaissant la grandeur de Dieu[i] 21 et en étant absolument persuadé que Dieu est capable d’accomplir ce qu’il a promis.

22 C’est pourquoi, Dieu l’a déclaré juste en portant sa foi à son crédit[j]. 23 Or si cette parole : Dieu a porté sa foi à son crédit a été consignée dans l’Ecriture, ce n’est pas seulement pour Abraham[k]. 24 Elle nous concerne nous aussi. Car la foi sera aussi portée à notre crédit, à nous qui plaçons notre confiance en celui qui a ressuscité Jésus notre Seigneur ; 25 il a été livré pour nos fautes, et il est ressuscité pour que nous soyons déclarés justes[l].

Footnotes

  1. 4.3 Paul emploie un terme du vocabulaire commercial qui signifie : imputer, porter au compte de quelqu’un. Dieu a porté l’acte de foi d’Abraham au compte du patriarche et l’a déclaré juste.
  2. 4.3 Gn 15.6.
  3. 4.8 Ps 32.1-2.
  4. 4.14 Autre traduction : s’il faut obéir à la Loi.
  5. 4.17 Gn 17.5.
  6. 4.17 Autre traduction : Il est notre père à tous 17 devant celui en qui il a mis sa confiance, Dieu qui donne…
  7. 4.18 Gn 17.5.
  8. 4.18 Gn 15.5.
  9. 4.20 Autre traduction : il fut fortifié dans sa foi et fit ainsi honneur à Dieu.
  10. 4.22 Gn 15.6.
  11. 4.23 Autre traduction : elle ne concerne pas seulement Abraham.
  12. 4.25 Autre traduction : ressuscité parce qu’il avait accompli l’œuvre par laquelle nous sommes déclarés justes.
Listen to 罗马书 4
Close CSBS

罗马书 4
Chinese Standard Bible (Simplified)

亚伯拉罕因信称义

4 那么，我们说我们肉体上的先祖亚伯拉罕得到了什么呢？ 2 事实上，如果亚伯拉罕本于行为被称为义，他就有可夸耀的；然而在神面前他并没有可夸耀的。 3 经上到底是怎么说的呢？

“亚伯拉罕信神，
这就被算为他的义。”[a]

4 做工的人得工钱，不算是恩典，而是应得的； 5 但是，一个人虽没有做工，却信靠那称不敬虔之人为义的神，这人的信就被算为义。

大卫的话

6 正如大卫也论到神所算为义之人的福份，这义与行为无关；他说：

7 “罪恶[b]被赦免、
罪孽被遮盖的人，
这人是蒙福的。
8 主绝不算为有罪的，
这人是蒙福的。”[c]

亚伯拉罕在受割礼前被称为义

9 既然如此，这福份到底是只赐给那些受割礼的人，还是也赐给那些没有受割礼的人呢？我们说：“亚伯拉罕因着信，就被算为义了。”[d] 10 那么，是怎么被算为义的呢？到底是在他受割礼之后，还是在他没有受割礼的时候呢？不是在受割礼之后，而是在没有受割礼的时候。 11 并且他领受了割礼的标记，做为他没有受割礼时因信称义的印证，使他成为所有不凭着割礼而信之人的父，也使他们被算为义； 12 而且他也成为受割礼之人的父，不仅为那些受了割礼的人，还为那些顺着我们的先祖亚伯拉罕信心之脚踪行走的人；亚伯拉罕的信心在他没有受割礼的时候就已经有了。

因信承受应许

13 原来，赐给亚伯拉罕和他后裔继承世界的应许，不是藉着律法，而是藉着因信而得的义。 14 这是因为，如果本于律法的才是继承人，信就落了空，应许也就无效了。 15 事实上，律法带来了震怒，所以哪里没有律法，哪里也就没有过犯。

16 为此，这应许是本于信，好使这应许照着恩典，能确保给所有的后裔——不仅是给属律法的，也是给属亚伯拉罕信心的。亚伯拉罕在神面前是我们每个人的父， 17 正如经上所记：“我已经指派你为众多民族的父。”[e]亚伯拉罕所信的那一位，就是叫死人得生命、使无变为有的神。 18 亚伯拉罕在没有盼望的时候，仍然怀着盼望去相信，因而成为众多民族的父，[f]正如先前所说：“你的后裔将要如此众多[g]。”[h] 19 他快到一百岁的时候，想到自己的身体如同[i]已经死了，又想到撒拉也已经不能生育，但是他的信仰却没有软弱。 20 他也没有因着不信去怀疑神的应许，反而因着信得以刚强，把荣耀归给神， 21 并且确信不疑：神所应许的，神也能成就。 22 因此，这就被算为他的义了。[j] 23 不但如此，“被算为他的义”这句话不仅是为亚伯拉罕写的， 24 也是为我们写的；我们信靠使我们的主耶稣从死人中复活的那一位，就将被算为义。 25 主耶稣被交出去，是为了我们的过犯；复活，是为了我们称义。

Footnotes

  1. 罗马书 4:3 《创世记》15:6。
  2. 罗马书 4:7 罪恶——原文直译“不法”。
  3. 罗马书 4:8 《诗篇》32:1-2。
  4. 罗马书 4:9 《创世记》15:6。
  5. 罗马书 4:17 《创世记》17:5。
  6. 罗马书 4:18 《创世记》17:5。
  7. 罗马书 4:18 众多——辅助词语。
  8. 罗马书 4:18 《创世记》15:5。
  9. 罗马书 4:19 如同——辅助词语。
  10. 罗马书 4:22 《创世记》15:6。
Listen to Romans 4
Close NIV

Romans 4
New International Version

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say(A) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(B) discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(C) 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](D)

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(E) but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(F) 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

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

9 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
Next
Romans 3
Romans 5
Next
dropdown
Living Bible (TLB)

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

La Bible du Semeur (BDS)

La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Chinese Standard Bible (Simplified) (CSBS)

Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV