The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

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- Chapter 4 -

(Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)

So then, what shall we say that Abraham had achieved, who is our father according to the flesh?

For if Abraham was justified by works, he would have glory, but not with God.(a)

(b)

For what does Scripture say? “Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.”(c)

But for he who works, wages are not accounted according to grace, but according to debt.(d)

Yet truly, for he who does not work, but who believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is reputed unto justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.

Similarly, David also declares the blessedness of a man, to whom God brings justice without works:

“Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven and whose sins have been covered.(e)

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin.”(f)

Does this blessedness, then, remain only in the circumcised, or is it even in the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was reputed to Abraham unto justice.(g)

But then how was it reputed? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

For he received the sign of circumcision as a symbol of the justice of that faith which exists apart from circumcision, so that he might be the father of all those who believe while uncircumcised, so that it might also be reputed to them unto justice,

and he might be the father of circumcision, not only for those who are of circumcision, but even for those who follow the footsteps of that faith which is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.

Abraham Receives the Promise

(Genesis 15:8–21)

For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith.

For if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith becomes empty and the Promise is abolished.(h)

For the law works unto wrath. And where there is no law, there is no law-breaking.(i)

Because of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before God,

in whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: “I have established you as the father of many nations.”

And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: “So shall your posterity be.”

And he was not weakened in faith, nor did he consider his own body to be dead (though he was then almost one hundred years old), nor the womb of Sarah to be dead.

And then, in the Promise of God, he did not hesitate out of distrust, but instead he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

knowing most fully that whatever God has promised, he is also able to accomplish.

And for this reason, it was reputed to him unto justice.

Now this has been written, that it was reputed to him unto justice, not only for his sake,

but also for our sake. For the same shall be reputed to us, if we believe in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead,

who was handed over because of our offenses, and who rose again for our justification.

Footnotes

(a)4:2 By works:Done by his own strength, without the grace of God, and faith in him.(Challoner)

(b)4:2 Not before God:Whatever glory or applause such works might procure from men, they would be of no value in the sight of God.(Challoner)

(c)4:3 Reputed, etc:By God, who reputes nothing otherwise than it is. However, we may gather from this word, that when we are justified, our justification proceeds from God’s free grace and bounty; and not from any efficacy which any act of ours could have of its own nature, abstracting from God’s grace.(Challoner)

(d)4:4 To him that works:Vis., as of his own fund, or by his own strength. Such a man, says the apostle, challenges his reward as a debt due to his own performances; whereas he who works not, that is, who presumes not upon any works done by his own strength, but seeks justice through faith and grace, is freely justified by God’s grace.(Challoner)

(e)4:7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered:That is, blessed are those who, by doing penance, have obtained pardon and remission of their sins, and also are covered; that is, newly clothed with the habit of grace, and vested with the stole of charity.(Challoner)

(f)4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin:That is, blessed is the man who has retained his baptismal innocence, that no grievous sin can be imputed to him. And, likewise, blessed is the man, who after fall into sin, has done penance and leads a virtuous life, by frequenting the sacraments necessary for obtaining the grace to prevent a relapse, that sin is no more imputed to him.(Challoner)

(g)4:9 In the circumcision, etc:That is, is it only for the Jews that are circumcised? No, says the apostle, but also for the uncircumcised Gentiles: who, by faith and grace, may come to justice; as Abraham did before he was circumcised.(Challoner)

(h)4:14 Be heirs:That is, if they alone, who follow the ceremonies of the law, be heirs of the blessings promised to Abraham; then that faith which was so much praised in him, will be found to be of little value. And the very promise will be made void, by which he was promised to be the father, not of the Jews only, but of all nations of believers.(Challoner)

(i)4:15 The law works wrath:The law, abstracting from faith and grace, works wrath occasionally, by being an occasion of many transgressions, which provoke God’s wrath.(Challoner)

(Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)

What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”(a)

Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.

But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” (b)

Is this blessing then pronounced only on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.

He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

Abraham Receives the Promise

(Genesis 15:8–21)

For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, 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.

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.”(c) This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.

Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”(d)

Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.

Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,

and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”(e)

Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,

but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Footnotes

(a)4:3 ℘ Genesis 15:6

(b)4:8 ℘ Psalms 32:1-2

(d)4:18 ℘ Genesis 15:5

(e)4:22 ℘ Genesis 15:6