Self-interpreting Bible

« back to list of books

« back to list of chapters

Romans 4

1Abraham himself was justified by faith: 9which was imputed to him for righteousness before circumcision, that he might be the common father of believers, whether circumcised or not. 13The promise was not given him through the law, else had it been void from the very nature of the law; but being of faith by grace is sure to all the destined seed, and not to those of the law only. 18The acceptableness of Abraham's faith; 23which stands recorded not for his sake only, but for the sake of all who shall profess a like faith in God through Christ.


1 WHAT ashall we say then that Abraham bour father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

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

3 For what saith the scripture? dAbraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 eNow to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but fbelieveth on him that justifieth gthe ungodly, his hfaith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God iimputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, jBlessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

    9 kCometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

    10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? lNot in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

    11 And he received mthe sign of circumcision, na seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be othe father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; pthat righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

    12 And the father of circumcision to them qwho are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

    13 rFor the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

    14 sFor if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

    15 tBecause the law worketh wrath: ufor where no law is, there is no transgression.

    16 vTherefore it is of faith, that it might be wby grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; xwho is the father of us all,

    17 (As it is written, yI have made thee a father of many nations,) 1before him whom he believed, even God, who zquickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

    18 aWho against hope believed in hope, that he might become bthe father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

    19 And being not cweak in faith, dhe considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

    20 He estaggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

    21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, fhe was able also to perform.

    22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

      23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

        24 gBut for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, hif we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;