Passage

Romans 4.1-25

Book: Romans · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh? 2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. 3. For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 4. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6. Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works, 7. saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered. 8. Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin. 9. Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness. 10. How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: 11. and he 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 them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them; 12. and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision. 13. For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. 14. For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: 15. for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. 16. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may 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, who is the father of us all 17. (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. 18. Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20. yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21. and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22. Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 23. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him; 24. but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25. who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification." (Romans 4:1-25, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4. Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 5. But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. 6. Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, 7. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” 9. Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11. He 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 might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. 12. He is the 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 Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. 13. For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15. For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. 16. For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17. As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. 18. Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.” 19. Without being weakened in 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. 20. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21. and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. 22. Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.” 23. Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, 24. but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, 25. who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification." (Romans 4:1-25, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7. Saying, Blessed 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. Cometh 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? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12. And the father of circumcision to them who 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. For 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. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15. Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by 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; who is the father of us all, 17. (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. ^{before him: or, like unto him} 18. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20. He staggered 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, he 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. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:1-25, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. What, then, shall we say Abraham our father, to have found, according to flesh? 2. for if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath to boast, but not before God; 3. for what doth the writing say? 'And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him, to righteousness;' 4. and to him who is working, the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt; 5. and to him who is not working, and is believing upon Him who is declaring righteous the impious, his faith is reckoned, to righteousness: 6. even as David also doth speak of the happiness of the man to whom God doth reckon righteousness apart from works: 7. 'Happy they whose lawless acts were forgiven, and whose sins were covered; 8. happy the man to whom the Lord may not reckon sin.' 9. [Is] this happiness, then, upon the circumcision, or also upon the uncircumcision, for we say that the faith was reckoned to Abraham, to righteousness? 10. how then was it reckoned? he being in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision; 11. and a sign he did receive of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith in the uncircumcision, for his being father of all those believing through uncircumcision, for the righteousness also being reckoned to them, 12. and father of circumcision to those not of circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of the faith, that [is] in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham. 13. For not through law [is] the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, of his being heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith; 14. for if they who are of law [are] heirs, the faith hath been made void, and the promise hath been made useless; 15. for the law doth work wrath; for where law is not, neither [is] transgression. 16. Because of this [it is] of faith, that [it may be] according to grace, for the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that which [is] of the law only, but also to that which [is] of the faith of Abraham, 17. who is father of us all (according as it hath been written, 'A father of many nations I have set thee,') before Him whom he did believe, God, who is quickening the dead, and is calling the things that be not as being. 18. Who, against hope in hope did believe, for his becoming father of many nations according to that spoken: 'So shall thy seed be;' 19. and not having been weak in the faith, he did not consider his own body, already become dead, (being about a hundred years old,) and the deadness of Sarah's womb, 20. and at the promise of God did not stagger in unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, having given glory to God, 21. and having been fully persuaded that what He hath promised He is able also to do: 22. wherefore also it was reckoned to him to righteousness. 23. And it was not written on his account alone, that it was reckoned to him, 24. but also on ours, to whom it is about to be reckoned, to us believing on Him who did raise up Jesus our Lord out of the dead, 25. who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous." (Romans 4:1-25, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.