< Romans 4 >

1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, found?
What, then, shall we say that Abraham our father has found, as it respects the flesh?
2 For if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had a reason to boast, but not before God.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has cause for boasting, but not before God.
3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
4 Now for him who works, what he is paid is not counted as a gift, but as what is owed.
Now to him that works, the reward is not counted as a favor, but as a debt:
5 But for him who does not work but instead believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.
but to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness without works.
Even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness without works, saying:
7 He said, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count sin.”
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not charge sin.
9 Then is this blessing pronounced only on those of the circumcision, or also on those of the uncircumcision? For we say, “Faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.”
Comes this blessedness then on those who are circumcised only, or on those who are uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham for righteousness.
10 So how was it counted? When Abraham was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? It was not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Under what circumstances, then, was it counted? After he was circumcised? Or, while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised.
11 Abraham received the sign of circumcision. This was a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had already possessed when he was in uncircumcision. The result of this sign was that he became the father of all those who believe, even if they are in uncircumcision. This means that righteousness will be counted for them.
And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was uncircumcised, in order that he might be the father of all that believe, even in a state of uncircumcision, so that righteousness might be counted to them also;
12 This also meant that Abraham became the father of the circumcision for those who are not only circumcised but also for those who follow in the steps of faith of our father Abraham before he was circumcised.
and the father of circumcision to those who are not only circumcised, but who, also, walk in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while he was yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham and to his descendants that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, nor to his posterity, through law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if those who live by the law are to be the heirs, faith is made empty, and the promise is void.
For if they that are of the law be heirs, the faith is made powerless, and the promise is unmeaning;
15 For the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there is no trespass.
for the law inflicts punishment; for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all of Abraham's descendants—not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all,
Therefore, the inheritance is by faith, that it may be according to grace, in order that the promise may be sure to all his posterity, not to those only who are of the law, but to those, also, who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations.” Abraham was in the presence of him whom he trusted, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist into existence.
(as it is written: I have made you a father of many nations, ) in the sight of him in whom he believed, even God, who makes the dead alive, and calls those things which are not, as though they were.
18 In hope he believed against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what he had been told, “So will your descendants be.”
He, against hope, confidently believed that he would become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: So shall your posterity be.
19 Without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about a hundred years old)—and he considered the deadness of Sarah's womb.
And not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body, which was already dead, (for he was about a hundred years old, ) nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb;
20 But because of God's promise, Abraham did not hesitate in unbelief. Instead, he was strengthened in faith and gave praise to God.
and he doubted not, through unbelief, with respect to the promise of God, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21 He was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to accomplish.
and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform.
22 Therefore this was also counted to him as righteousness.
For this reason, it was counted to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written only for his benefit, that it was counted for him.
But that it was counted to him, was not written for his sake alone,
24 It was written also for us, for whom it will be counted, we who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
but for our sakes also, to whom it shall be counted, if we believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 This is the one who was delivered up for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
who was delivered up for our offenses, and raised again for our justification.

< Romans 4 >