Romans 4:2 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 4:2

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

KJV

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

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Commentary

4 voices

Cyril of Alexandria

EXPLANATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS (444)

What can we say to those who insist that Abraham was justified by works because he was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar? Abraham was already an old man when God promised him that he would have a son and that his descendants would be as countless as the stars of the sky. Abraham piously believed that all things are possible with God and so exercised this faith.

The record, by era

The Reformation1 voice

John Calvin

1509–1564

Commentaries (1554)

For if Abraham, etc. This is an incomplete argument, which may be made in this form -- "If Abraham was justified by works, he might justly glory: but he had nothing for which he could glory before God; then he was not justified by works." Thus the clause but not before God, is the minor proposition; and to this must be added the conclusion which I have stated, though it is not expressed by Paul.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

For if Abraham were justified by works - The Jew proceeds: - I conclude, therefore, that Abraham was justified by works, or by his obedience to this law of circumcision; and, consequently, he has cause for glorying, καυχημα, to exult in something which he has done to entitle him to these blessings. Now, it is evident that he has this glorying, and consequently that he was justified by works. Apostle.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?--that is, (as the order in the original shows), "hath found, as pertaining to ('according to,' or 'through') the flesh"; meaning, "by all his natural efforts or legal obedience."

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

12 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
εἰ	ei	If	G1487 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
Ἀβραὰμ	Abraam	Abraham	G11 →
ἐξ	ex	by	G1537 →
ἔργων	ergōn	works	G2041 →
ἐδικαιώθη,	edikaiōthē	was justified,	G1344 →
ἔχει	echei	he has	G2192 →
καύχημα	kauchēma	ground of boasting	G2745 →
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	but	G235 →
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
πρὸς	pros	toward	G4314 →
θεόν.	theon	God.	G2316 →

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
1 Corinthians 1:31
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
leads to
- Jeremiah 9:23–24
  This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
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.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
  God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- 1 Corinthians 1:30
  It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- Galatians 2:16
  know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in…
Through
Ephesians 2:9
not by works, so that no one can boast.
leads to
- 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.
- Romans 11:6
  And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
- Titus 3:3–5
  For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Romans 9:16
  So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

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