Romans 4:22
in Romans 4This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
KJV
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
⋯
This verse in Romans 4
Commentary
14 notes on this verseTherefore Abraham "against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations," which were to be as the stars of heaven, not only in multitude but also in brightness; and he, faithfully believing him who promised, "was not," he says, "weakened in faith." What he says, "he was not weakened in faith," seems to me to show that there is a certain weakness in faith. But if there is weakness, there is without doubt also health, as he shows in other places when he says: "Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."
This site's exposition
credited to him as righteousness
Credited to him as righteousness closes the chapter on the same words that opened it at verse 3. The faith described across verses 18 to 21 is exactly the faith Genesis 15:6 counted. Abraham's whole life confirms the one line.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Origen of AlexandriaCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.
proposed
"Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall your seed be, as the stars of heaven and the sand of the sea. And he was not weakened in faith, nor did he consider his own body now dead, since he was almost a hundred years old, and the dead womb of Sarah. In the promise also of God he did not hesitate through distrust: but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and knowing most fully that whatever he promised, he is able also to do. Therefore it was also reputed to him unto justice." It seems to me that when the Apostle said "against hope," he had in view that which is related in Genesis, that Abraham said to the Lord: "Sovereign Lord, what will you give me? I am dismissed without children: but this son of Masech my homeborn maidservant is Damascus Eliezer. And Abraham said: Since you have given me no seed, this homeborn servant of mine shall be my heir." From which words Abraham is certainly understood to have despaired of receiving children. But as for what he said, "he believed in hope," I think he gathers the hope given to him again from that place where it is written: "And the voice of the Lord came to him saying: This man shall not be your heir; but he who shall come forth from you, he himself shall be your heir. And he led him outside, and said to him: Look up to heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to count them. And he said to him: So shall your seed be. And he believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice." From these words, therefore, both his earlier despair and the hope afterwards given to him by God's promises are declared. […]
"And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." Abstaining then from curious questionings is glorifying God, as indulging in them is transgressing. But if by entering into curious questions, and searching out things below, we fail to glorify Him, much more if we be over curious in the matter of the Lord's generation, shall we suffer to the utmost for our insolence. For if the type of the resurrection is not to be searched into, much less those unutterable and awestiking subjects. And he does not use the word "believed" merely, but, "being fully persuaded." For such a thing is faith, it is clearer than the demonstration by reasons, and persuades more fully. For it is not possible for another reasoning succeeding to it to shake it afterwards. He indeed that is persuaded with words may have his persuasion altered too by them. But he that stays himself upon faith, hath henceforward fortified his hearing against words that may do hurt to it.
Paul claims that Abraham is worthy of this praise because although he knew that he could not do it himself, he strengthened his weakness by faith, so that he believed that with God's help he could do what he knew was impossible by the laws …
The Medieval Church2 voices
The Apostle said much in praise of Abraham, but someone might object: what is that to us? Therefore he states that it was written for us as well, that faith will be reckoned as righteousness for us too, if only we have it, believing in …
Then when he says, and therefore it was reputed to him, he commends Abraham's faith in regard to its effect. First, he mentions the effect it had in him, saying, and therefore, namely, because Abraham believed this so firmly, it was reputed to him unto …
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
This shows why faith is chosen to be the prime condition of our justification, because it is a grace that of all others gives glory to God. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
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.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness - The verse is thus paraphrased by Dr. Taylor: “For which reason God was graciously pleased to place his faith to his account; and to allow his fiducial reliance upon the Divine goodness, power, and faithfulness, for a title to the Divine blessing, which, otherwise, having been an idolater, he had no right to.” Abraham’s strong faith in the promise of the coming Savior, for this was essential to his faith, was reckoned to him for justification: for it is not said that any righteousness, either his own, or that of another, was imputed or reckoned to him for justification; but it, i.e. his faith in God.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
And therefore it was imputed, &c.--"Let all then take notice that this was not because of anything meritorious in Abraham, but merely because he so believed."
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Who against hope--when no ground for hope appeared. believed in hope--that is, cherished the believing expectation. that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be--that is, Such "as the stars of heaven," Ge 15:5.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And therefore - His faith was so implicit, and so unwavering, that it was a demonstration that he was the firm friend of God. He was tried, and he had such confidence in God that he showed that he was supremely attached to him, and would obey and serve him. This was reckoned as a full proof of friendship; and he was recognised and treated as righteous; that is, as the friend of God. (The true sense of faith being imputed for righteousness is given in a note at the beginning of the chapter.) See the note at Rom 4:3, 5.
The words behind it
6 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διὸ | dio | Therefore | G1352 → | 53 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐλογίσθη | elogisthe | it was credited | G3049 → | 40 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | to him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| εἰς | eis | unto | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| δικαιοσύνην.¶ | dikaiosunen | righteousness. | G1343 → | 92 times |
διὸTherefore
dioG1352 →53 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐλογίσθηit was credited
elogistheG3049 →40 times
αὐτῷto him
autoG846 →5565 times
εἰςunto
eisG1519 →1755 times
δικαιοσύνην.¶righteousness.
dikaiosunenG1343 →92 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 4:3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
it leads to
- Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
- James 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
- Galatians 3:6–8
So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
- Romans 4:9
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.
- Romans 4:22–25
This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
- Genesis 15:6
Through
Romans 4:6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
it leads to
- Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
- 2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Ephesians 2:8–10
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
- Philippians 3:9
Where this verse is studied
About Romans
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Robert Haldane, Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.