What then will we say that Ibrahim, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2For if Ibrahim was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward Allah. 3For what does Al-Kitab say? Ibrahim “believed Allah, and it was credited to him as righteousness.“[1] 4Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as debt. 5But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6Even as Dawud also pronounces blessing on the man to whom Allah credits righteousness apart from works,
7“Blessed are they whose disobedience is forgiven,
Whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the man whom Allah will by no means charge with sin.“[2]
9Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was credited to Ibrahim as righteousness.[3] 10How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. 12The father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Ibrahim, which he had in uncircumcision. 13For the promise to Ibrahimand to his seed that he would be heir of the world did not come through shariah, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. 14For if those who are of shariah are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15For shariah brings punishment, but where there is no shariah, neither is there violation. 16For this reason, God’s promise comes through faith, that it may be by God’s grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are under the Taurat, but to those who have faith like Ibrahim, the father of us all. 17As it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations.“[4] This is in the sight of Allah in whom he believed. Allah is the who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. 18Against all hope, Ibrahim believed in the hope that he might become a father of many nations, just as had been spoken, “So will your seed be.“[5] 19Without weakening in his faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, he being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20Yet, looking to the promise of Allah, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to Allah, 21and being fully assured that what Allah had promised, he was able also to perform. 22Therefore it also was “credited to Ibrahim as righteousness.“[6] 23Now it was not written that it was credited to Ibrahim for his sake alone, 24but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, if we believe in him who raised ‘Isa, our Lord, from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised so that we could be made righteous.
[1] 4:3 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 15:6.
[2] 4:7-8 Quotation from the Zabur 32:1-2.
[3] 4:9 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 15:6.
[4] 4:17 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 17:5.
[5] 4:18 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 15:5.
[6] 4:22 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 15:6.