Προς Ρωμαιους 4
1 τι ουν ερουμεν αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων ευρηκεναι κατα σαρκα
What then shall we say that Abraham, our earthly forefather, has gained?
2 ει γαρ αβρααμ εξ εργων εδικαιωθη εχει καυχημα αλλ ου προσ τον θεον
For if he was held to be righteous on the ground of his actions, he has something to boast of; but not in the presence of God.
3 τι γαρ η γραφη λεγει επιστευσεν δε αβρααμ τω θεω και ελογισθη αυτω εισ δικαιοσυνην
For what says the Scripture? "And Abraham believed God, and this was placed to his credit as righteousness."
4 τω δε εργαζομενω ο μισθοσ ου λογιζεται κατα χαριν αλλα κατα οφειλημα
But in the case of a man who works, pay is not reckoned a favour but a debt;
5 τω δε μη εργαζομενω πιστευοντι δε επι τον δικαιουντα τον ασεβη λογιζεται η πιστισ αυτου εισ δικαιοσυνην
whereas in the case of a man who pleads no actions of his own, but simply believes in Him who declares the ungodly free from guilt, his faith is placed to his credit as righteousness.
6 καθαπερ και δαυιδ λεγει τον μακαρισμον του ανθρωπου ω ο θεοσ λογιζεται δικαιοσυνην χωρισ εργων
In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions.
7 μακαριοι ων αφεθησαν αι ανομιαι και ων επεκαλυφθησαν αι αμαρτιαι
"Blessed," he says, "are those whose iniquities have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered over.
8 μακαριοσ ανηρ ω ου μη λογισηται κυριοσ αμαρτιαν
Blessed is the man of whose sin the Lord will not take account."
9 ο μακαρισμοσ ουν ουτοσ επι την περιτομην η και επι την ακροβυστιαν λεγομεν γαρ οτι ελογισθη τω αβρααμ η πιστισ εισ δικαιοσυνην
This declaration of blessedness, then, does it come simply to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? For Abraham's faith--so we affirm--was placed to his credit as righteousness.
10 πωσ ουν ελογισθη εν περιτομη οντι η εν ακροβυστια ουκ εν περιτομη αλλ εν ακροβυστια
What then were the circumstances under which this took place? Was it after he had been circumcised, or before?
11 και σημειον ελαβεν περιτομησ σφραγιδα τησ δικαιοσυνησ τησ πιστεωσ τησ εν τη ακροβυστια εισ το ειναι αυτον πατερα παντων των πιστευοντων δι ακροβυστιασ εισ το λογισθηναι και αυτοισ την δικαιοσυνην
Before, not after. And he received circumcision as a sign, a mark attesting the reality of the faith-righteousness which was his while still uncircumcised, that he might be the forefather of all those who believe even though they are uncircumcised--in order that this righteousness might be placed to their credit;
12 και πατερα περιτομησ τοισ ουκ εκ περιτομησ μονον αλλα και τοισ στοιχουσιν τοισ ιχνεσιν τησ πιστεωσ τησ εν τη ακροβυστια του πατροσ ημων αβρααμ
and the forefather of the circumcised, namely of those who not merely are circumcised, but also walk in the steps of the faith which our forefather Abraham had while he was as yet uncircumcised.
13 ου γαρ δια νομου η επαγγελια τω αβρααμ η τω σπερματι αυτου το κληρονομον αυτον ειναι του κοσμου αλλα δια δικαιοσυνησ πιστεωσ
Again, the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his posterity conditioned by Law, but by faith-righteousness.
14 ει γαρ οι εκ νομου κληρονομοι κεκενωται η πιστισ και κατηργηται η επαγγελια
For if it is the righteous through Law who are heirs, then faith is useless and the promise counts for nothing.
15 ο γαρ νομοσ οργην κατεργαζεται ου γαρ ουκ εστιν νομοσ ουδε παραβασισ
For the Law inflicts punishment; but where no Law exists, there can be no violation of Law.
16 δια τουτο εκ πιστεωσ ινα κατα χαριν εισ το ειναι βεβαιαν την επαγγελιαν παντι τω σπερματι ου τω εκ του νομου μονον αλλα και τω εκ πιστεωσ αβρααμ οσ εστιν πατηρ παντων ημων
All depends on faith, and for this reason--that acceptance with God might be an act of pure grace,
17 καθωσ γεγραπται οτι πατερα πολλων εθνων τεθεικα σε κατεναντι ου επιστευσεν θεου του ζωοποιουντοσ τουσ νεκρουσ και καλουντοσ τα μη οντα ωσ οντα
so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I have appointed you to be the forefather of many nations."
18 οσ παρ ελπιδα επ ελπιδι επιστευσεν εισ το γενεσθαι αυτον πατερα πολλων εθνων κατα το ειρημενον ουτωσ εσται το σπερμα σου
Under utterly hopeless circumstances he hopefully believed, so that he might become the forefather of many nations, in agreement with the words "Equally numerous shall your posterity be."
19 και μη ασθενησασ τη πιστει ου κατενοησεν το εαυτου σωμα ηδη νενεκρωμενον εκατονταετησ που υπαρχων και την νεκρωσιν τησ μητρασ σαρρασ
And, without growing weak in faith, he could contemplate his own vital powers which had now decayed--for he was nearly 100 years old--and Sarah's barrenness.
20 εισ δε την επαγγελιαν του θεου ου διεκριθη τη απιστια αλλ ενεδυναμωθη τη πιστει δουσ δοξαν τω θεω
Nor did he in unbelief stagger at God's promise, but became mighty in faith, giving glory to God,
21 και πληροφορηθεισ οτι ο επηγγελται δυνατοσ εστιν και ποιησαι
and being absolutely certain that whatever promise He is bound by He is able also to make good.
22 διο και ελογισθη αυτω εισ δικαιοσυνην
For this reason also his faith was placed to his credit as righteousness.
23 ουκ εγραφη δε δι αυτον μονον οτι ελογισθη αυτω
Nor was the fact of its being placed to his credit put on record for his sake only;
24 αλλα και δι ημασ οισ μελλει λογιζεσθαι τοισ πιστευουσιν επι τον εγειραντα ιησουν τον κυριον ημων εκ νεκρων
it was for our sakes too. Faith, before long, will be placed to the credit of us also who are believers in Him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead,
25 οσ παρεδοθη δια τα παραπτωματα ημων και ηγερθη δια την δικαιωσιν ημων
who was surrendered to death because of the offences we had committed, and was raised to life because of the acquittal secured for us.
