Romanschapter 4
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A.Abraham Believed God, and It Was Reckoned to Himvv. 1-8
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered? 2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
B.Righteousness Before Circumcision, Promise Before Lawvv. 9-17
9 Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
C.In Hope Against Hope, Strong in Faithvv. 18-25
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, 24 but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
Chapter summary
Abraham justified by faith.
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Chapter summary
Abraham justified by faith.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Abraham justified by faith. Before circumcision, therefore father of believing Gentiles too. David's blessedness (Ps 32) echoes the same gospel. Paul argues by chronology: righteousness was imputed before the covenant sign. The promise therefore flows by faith, that it might be by grace, and sure to all the seed. Abraham believed against hope, giving glory to God; his faith is a pattern for every Christian. Matthew Henry reads the chapter as the great Scriptural argument for justification by faith, anchored in a single test-case believer.
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.
Context
Epistle · Paul — Romans overview
- A. 1–8 Abraham Believed God, and It Was Reckoned to Him
- B. 9–17 Righteousness Before Circumcision, Promise Before Law
- C. 18–25 In Hope Against Hope, Strong in Faith
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
Galatians 35 verses
- Galatians 3:6So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
- Galatians 3:10All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Galatians 3:14He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
- Galatians 3:18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
- Galatians 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
- Read Galatians 3 →
Romans 44 verses
- Romans 4:3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
- Romans 4:6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
- Romans 4:16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
- Romans 4:20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
- Read Romans 4 →
Romans 92 verses
- Romans 9:8So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.
- Romans 9:32Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
- Read Romans 9 →
Romans 32 verses
- Romans 3:22And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
- Romans 3:24and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
- Read Romans 3 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
1 Corinthians 12 verses
- 1 Corinthians 1:28He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
- 1 Corinthians 1:31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
- Read 1 Corinthians 1 →
Genesis 152 verses
- Genesis 15:5And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
- Genesis 15:6Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
- Read Genesis 15 →
Romans 112 verses
- Romans 11:6And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
- Romans 11:35“Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?”
- Read Romans 11 →
Psalms 322 verses
- Psalms 32:1Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
- Psalms 32:2Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
- Read Psalms 32 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.