Romans 4

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 God. 3For what does Al-Kitab1 say?

Ibrahim “believed GOD,2 and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 3

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 God credits righteousness apart from works,

7“Blessed are they whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the man whom the LORD4 will by no means charge with sin.” 5

9Is this blessing then pronounced only on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was credited to Ibrahim as righteousness. 10When was it credited? After he was circumcised, or before he was circumcised? Not after circumcision, but before, while still uncircumcised. 11He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe but are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them; 12and the father of the circumcised who are not only circumcised, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Ibrahim, which he had while still uncircumcised.

13For the promise to Ibrahim and to his seed that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, 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 law6, 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.” 7

This is in the sight of God in whom he believed. God 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.” 8

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 God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully assured that what God had promised, he was able also to perform. 22Therefore it also was

“credited to him as righteousness.” 9

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 ‘ISA10, our Lord, from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised for our justification.

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  1. 4:3 Al-Kitab, is an Arabic-derived term for “the Scriptures.” It is related to the Aramaic ketab and Hebrew terms ketab, miktab, and ktb. The same meaning of “the Scriptures” is expressed in Greek by graphe. In this verse, Al-Kitab refers to the Hebrew scriptures, including the Taurat, the Zabur, and the writings of the Prophets. ↩︎
  2. 4:3 GOD, the use of all capital letters means that the original Hebrew text quoted here uses God’s Name, YAHWEH, which God-fearing Jews to this day do not say out of respect. YAHWEH is the Name God revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.” ↩︎
  3. 4:3 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 15:6 which says: He believed YAHWEH, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ↩︎
  4. 4:8 LORD, the use of all capital letters means that the original Hebrew text quoted here uses God’s Name, YAHWEH, which God-fearing Jews to this day do not say out of respect. YAHWEH is the Name God revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.” ↩︎
  5. 4:7-8 Quotation from the Zabur 32:1-2 which says: Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom YAHWEH will by no means charge with sin, in whose spirit there is no deceit. ↩︎
  6. 4:16 under the law, or, under the Taurat. ↩︎
  7. 4:17 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 17:5 which says: “Neither will your name any more be called Ibram, but your name will be Ibrahim; for I have made you the father of many nations.” ↩︎
  8. 4:18 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 15:5 which says: YAHWEH brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Ibram, “So will your seed be.” ↩︎
  9. 4:22 Quotation from the Taurat, Genesis 15:6 which says: He believed YAHWEH, and it was credited to him as righteousness. ↩︎
  10. 4:24 ‘ISA – The names ‘ISA (Arabic), ISHO (Syriac) and JESUS (Greek, IESOUS) are all derived from the Hebrew name YEHOSHUA, which means “YAHWEH saves.” (YAHWEH is God’s personal name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”) ↩︎