Roma 4:1-5

The Illustration of Justification

4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, ¹  has discovered regarding this matter? ²  4:2 For if Abraham was declared righteous ³  by the works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God. 4:3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited ⁴  to him as righteousness.” ⁵  4:4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. ⁶  4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, ⁷  his faith is credited as righteousness.

Roma 4:16

4:16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, ⁸  with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, ⁹  who is the father of us all

[4:1]  ¹ tn Or “according to natural descent” (BDAG 916 s.v. σάρξ 4).

[4:1]  ² tn Grk “has found?”

[4:2]  ³ tn Or “was justified.”

[4:3]  ⁴ tn The term λογίζομαι (logizomai) occurs 11 times in this chapter (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24). In secular usage it could (a) refer to deliberations of some sort, or (b) in commercial dealings (as virtually a technical term) to “reckoning” or “charging up a debt.” See H. W. Heidland, TDNT 4:284, 290-92.

[4:3]  ⁵ sn A quotation from Gen 15:6.

[4:4]  ⁶ tn Grk “not according to grace but according to obligation.”

[4:5]  ⁷ tn Or “who justifies the ungodly.”

[4:16]  ⁸ tn Grk “that it might be according to grace.”

[4:16]  ⁹ tn Grk “those who are of the faith of Abraham.”