Romans 4:16 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 4:16

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.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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 seed; 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

KJV

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; 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,

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Commentary

4 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace - On this account the promise is mercifully grounded, not on obedience to a law, but on the infinite goodness of God: and thus the promise is sure to all the seed - to all, both Jews and Gentiles, who, believing in Christ Jesus, have a right to all the blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant. All the seed necessarily comprehends all mankind.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Therefore it - The blessing. Is of faith, that it might be of grace - That it might appear to flow from the free love of God, and that the promise might be firm, sure, and effectual, to all the spiritual seed of Abraham; not only Jews, but gentiles also, if they follow his faith.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Or, rather, it points at Christ, the seed here mentioned; compare Gal. iii. 16 , To thy seed, which is Christ. Now Christ is the heir of the world, the ends of the earth are his possession, and it is in him that Abraham was so.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Therefore, &c.--A general summary: "Thus justification is by faith, in order that its purely gracious character may be seen, and that all who follow in the steps of Abraham's faith--whether of his natural seed or no--may be assured of the like justification with the parent believer."

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

33 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
διὰ	dia	Therefore	G1223 →
τοῦτο	touto	it [is]	G3778 →
ἐκ	ek	of	G1537 →
πίστεως,	pisteōs	faith,	G4102 →
ἵνα	ina	that [it may be]	G2443 →
κατὰ	kata	according to	G2596 →
χάριν,	charin	grace,	G5485 →
εἰς	eis	for	G1519 →
τὸ	to	<the>	G3588 →
εἶναι	einai	to be	G1511 →
βεβαίαν	bebaian	sure	G949 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
ἐπαγγελίαν	epangelian	promise	G1860 →
παντὶ	panti	to all	G3956 →
τῷ	tō	the	G3588 →
σπέρματι,	spermati	seed,	G4690 →
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
τῷ	tō	to that	G3588 →
ἐκ	ek	of	G1537 →
τοῦ	tou	the	G3588 →
νόμου	nomou	law	G3551 →
μόνον	monon	only	G3441 →
ἀλλὰ	alla	but	G235 →
καὶ	kai	also	G2532 →
τῷ	tō	to that	G3588 →
ἐκ	ek	of [the]	G1537 →
πίστεως	pisteōs	faith	G4102 →
Ἀβραάμ,	Abraam	of Abraham,	G11 →
ὅς	hos	who	G3739 →
ἐστιν	estin	is	G1510 →
πατὴρ	patēr	[the] father	G3962 →
πάντων	pantōn	of all	G3956 →
ἡμῶν	hēmōn	of us —	G3165 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
leads to
- Romans 3:22–26
  And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
- Ephesians 2:5
  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
- John 1:12–13
  But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- Romans 10:17
  Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- Romans 10:9–10
  that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Through
Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
leads to
- Romans 11:32
  For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.
- Hebrews 9:15
  Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under…
Through
Titus 3:7
so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
leads to
- Romans 8:17
  And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

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Six covenants in succession, cumulative rather than replacing. Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New. Each narrowing the line of promise while widening the scope of fulfillment.

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