For what does the Scripture say? (A)“Abraham believed God, and it was [a]accounted to him for righteousness.” Now (B)to him who works, the wages are not counted [b]as grace but as debt.

David Celebrates the Same Truth

But to him who (C)does not work but believes on Him who justifies (D)the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also (E)describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed(F) are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Abraham Justified Before Circumcision

Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And (G)he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that (H)he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 imputed, credited, reckoned, counted
  2. Romans 4:4 according to

For what does the Scripture say? “(A)Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who (B)works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but (C)believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

(D)Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven,
And whose sins have been covered.
(E)Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not (F)take into account.”

Is this blessing then on [a](G)the circumcised, or on [b]the uncircumcised also? For (H)we say, “(I)Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it credited? While he was [c]circumcised, or [d]uncircumcised? Not while [e]circumcised, but while [f]uncircumcised; 11 and he (J)received the sign of circumcision, (K)a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [g]he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be (L)the father of (M)all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:9 Lit circumcision
  2. Romans 4:9 Lit uncircumcision
  3. Romans 4:10 Lit in circumcision
  4. Romans 4:10 Lit in uncircumcision
  5. Romans 4:10 Lit in circumcision
  6. Romans 4:10 Lit in uncircumcision
  7. Romans 4:11 Lit was in uncircumcision

What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](A)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(B) but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(C) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b](D)

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?(E) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.(F) 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(G) So then, he is the father(H) of all who believe(I) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  2. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2

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

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

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

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

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

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

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:

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