Romans 4:1-8
Romans 4:1-8
ESV
Abraham Justified by Faith
"What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.' Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.'"
NASB
Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament
"What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.' Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.' 'BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.'"
Stephanus 1550 New Testament
1 τι ουν ερουμεν αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων ευρηκεναι κατα σαρκα
2 ει γαρ αβρααμ εξ εργων εδικαιωθη εχει καυχημα αλλ ου προς τον θεον
3 τι γαρ η γραφη λεγει επιστευσεν δε αβρααμ τω θεω και ελογισθη αυτω εις δικαιοσυνην
4 τω δε εργαζομενω ο μισθος ου λογιζεται κατα χαριν αλλα κατα το οφειλημα
5 τω δε μη εργαζομενω πιστευοντι δε επι τον δικαιουντα τον ασεβη λογιζεται η πιστις αυτου εις δικαιοσυνην
6 καθαπερ και δαβιδ λεγει τον μακαρισμον του ανθρωπου ω ο θεος λογιζεται δικαιοσυνην χωρις εργων
7 μακαριοι ων αφεθησαν αι ανομιαι και ων επεκαλυφθησαν αι αμαρτιαι
8 μακαριος ανηρ ω ου μη λογισηται κυριος αμαρτιαν
Key Words:
1. Forefather: 4310b / Propator -- a forefather (from 4253 and 3962) 4253 / Pro -- before and 3962 / Pater -- a father
2. Flesh: 4561 / Sarx -- flesh
3. Works (vs. 2+6): 2041 / Ergon -- work (from Erdo -- to do)
4. Boast: 2744 / Kauchaomai -- to boast
5. Works (vs. 4): 2038b / Ergazomai -- to work, labor (from 2041) 2041 / Ergon -- work (from Erdo -- to do)
6. Wages/Wage: 3408 / Misthos -- wages, hire
7. Gift/Favor: 5485 / Charis -- grace, kindness
8. Due: 3783 / Opheilema -- that which is owed, a debt (from 3784) 3784 / Opheilo -- to owe
9. Work: 2038b / Same as #5 above
10. Ungodly: 765 / Asebes -- ungodly, impious (from Alpha -- first and 4576) 4576 / Sebo -- to worship
11. Lawless: 458 / Anomia -- lawlessness (from 459) 459 / Anomos -- lawless, without law (from Alpha -- first and 3551) 3551 / Nomos -- that which is assigned, hence usage, law (from Nemo -- to parcel out)
12. Deeds: 458 / Same as #11 above
13. Sins: 266 / Hamartia -- a sin, failure (from 264) 264 / Hamartano -- to miss the mark, do wrong, sin
14. Sin: 266 / Same as #13 above
1. Gained/Found: 2147 / Heurisko -- to find
2. Counted/Credited: 3049 / Logizomai -- to reckon, to consider (from 3056 in the sense of an account or reckoning) 3056 / Logos -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech (from 3004) 3004 / Lego -- to say
3. Counts/Credits: 3049 / Same as #2 above
4. Covered: 1943 / Epikalupto -- to cover over or up (from 1909 and 2572) 1909 / Epi -- on, upon and 2572 / Kalupto -- to cover (akin to Kalube -- hut, cabin)
5. Count/Account: 3049 / Same as #2 above
1. According: 2596 / Kata -- down, against, according to
2. Justified: 1344 / Dikaioo -- to show to be righteous, declare righteous (from 1342) 1342 / Dikaios -- correct, righteous (from 1349) 1349 / Dike -- right, justice
3. Believed: 4100 / Pisteuo -- to believe, entrust (from 4102) 4102 / Pistis -- faith, faithfulness (from 3982) 3982 / Peitho -- to persuade, to have confidence
4. Righteousness: 1343 / Dikaiosune -- righteousness, justice (from 1342) 1342 / Dikaios -- correct, righteous (from 1349) 1349 / Dike -- right, justice
5. Trusts/Believes: 4100 / Same as #3 above
6. Justifies: 1344 / Same as #2 above
7. Faith: 4102 / Pistis -- faith, faithfulness (from 3982) peitho -- to persuade, to have confidence
8. Blessing: 3108 / Makarismos -- a declaration of blessedness (from 3106) 3106 / Makarizo -- to bless (from 3107) 3107 / Makarios -- blessed, happy (from Makar -- happy)
9. Blessed: 3107 / Makarios -- blessed, happy (from Makar -- happy)
10. Forgiven: 863 / Aphiemi -- to send away, leave alone, permit (from 575 and Hiemi -- to send) 575 / Apo -- from, away from
1. Apart: 5565 / Choris -- separately, sparate from (akin to Cheros -- bereaved)
Feel free to comment on what God reveals to you as you read His Word.
In Christ,
David
ESV
Abraham Justified by Faith
"What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.' Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.'"
NASB
Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament
"What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.' Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.' 'BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.'"
Stephanus 1550 New Testament
1 τι ουν ερουμεν αβρααμ τον πατερα ημων ευρηκεναι κατα σαρκα
2 ει γαρ αβρααμ εξ εργων εδικαιωθη εχει καυχημα αλλ ου προς τον θεον
3 τι γαρ η γραφη λεγει επιστευσεν δε αβρααμ τω θεω και ελογισθη αυτω εις δικαιοσυνην
4 τω δε εργαζομενω ο μισθος ου λογιζεται κατα χαριν αλλα κατα το οφειλημα
5 τω δε μη εργαζομενω πιστευοντι δε επι τον δικαιουντα τον ασεβη λογιζεται η πιστις αυτου εις δικαιοσυνην
6 καθαπερ και δαβιδ λεγει τον μακαρισμον του ανθρωπου ω ο θεος λογιζεται δικαιοσυνην χωρις εργων
7 μακαριοι ων αφεθησαν αι ανομιαι και ων επεκαλυφθησαν αι αμαρτιαι
8 μακαριος ανηρ ω ου μη λογισηται κυριος αμαρτιαν
Key Words:
1. Forefather: 4310b / Propator -- a forefather (from 4253 and 3962) 4253 / Pro -- before and 3962 / Pater -- a father
2. Flesh: 4561 / Sarx -- flesh
3. Works (vs. 2+6): 2041 / Ergon -- work (from Erdo -- to do)
4. Boast: 2744 / Kauchaomai -- to boast
5. Works (vs. 4): 2038b / Ergazomai -- to work, labor (from 2041) 2041 / Ergon -- work (from Erdo -- to do)
6. Wages/Wage: 3408 / Misthos -- wages, hire
7. Gift/Favor: 5485 / Charis -- grace, kindness
8. Due: 3783 / Opheilema -- that which is owed, a debt (from 3784) 3784 / Opheilo -- to owe
9. Work: 2038b / Same as #5 above
10. Ungodly: 765 / Asebes -- ungodly, impious (from Alpha -- first and 4576) 4576 / Sebo -- to worship
11. Lawless: 458 / Anomia -- lawlessness (from 459) 459 / Anomos -- lawless, without law (from Alpha -- first and 3551) 3551 / Nomos -- that which is assigned, hence usage, law (from Nemo -- to parcel out)
12. Deeds: 458 / Same as #11 above
13. Sins: 266 / Hamartia -- a sin, failure (from 264) 264 / Hamartano -- to miss the mark, do wrong, sin
14. Sin: 266 / Same as #13 above
1. Gained/Found: 2147 / Heurisko -- to find
2. Counted/Credited: 3049 / Logizomai -- to reckon, to consider (from 3056 in the sense of an account or reckoning) 3056 / Logos -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech (from 3004) 3004 / Lego -- to say
3. Counts/Credits: 3049 / Same as #2 above
4. Covered: 1943 / Epikalupto -- to cover over or up (from 1909 and 2572) 1909 / Epi -- on, upon and 2572 / Kalupto -- to cover (akin to Kalube -- hut, cabin)
5. Count/Account: 3049 / Same as #2 above
1. According: 2596 / Kata -- down, against, according to
2. Justified: 1344 / Dikaioo -- to show to be righteous, declare righteous (from 1342) 1342 / Dikaios -- correct, righteous (from 1349) 1349 / Dike -- right, justice
3. Believed: 4100 / Pisteuo -- to believe, entrust (from 4102) 4102 / Pistis -- faith, faithfulness (from 3982) 3982 / Peitho -- to persuade, to have confidence
4. Righteousness: 1343 / Dikaiosune -- righteousness, justice (from 1342) 1342 / Dikaios -- correct, righteous (from 1349) 1349 / Dike -- right, justice
5. Trusts/Believes: 4100 / Same as #3 above
6. Justifies: 1344 / Same as #2 above
7. Faith: 4102 / Pistis -- faith, faithfulness (from 3982) peitho -- to persuade, to have confidence
8. Blessing: 3108 / Makarismos -- a declaration of blessedness (from 3106) 3106 / Makarizo -- to bless (from 3107) 3107 / Makarios -- blessed, happy (from Makar -- happy)
9. Blessed: 3107 / Makarios -- blessed, happy (from Makar -- happy)
10. Forgiven: 863 / Aphiemi -- to send away, leave alone, permit (from 575 and Hiemi -- to send) 575 / Apo -- from, away from
1. Apart: 5565 / Choris -- separately, sparate from (akin to Cheros -- bereaved)
Feel free to comment on what God reveals to you as you read His Word.
In Christ,
David
posted by Mark 1:17 at 8:30 AM
3 Comments:
The Long version:
Romans 4:1-8
Abrahma Justified by Faith Evidenced in the Old Testament
1. What then shall we say was found by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
2. For if Abraham was declared to be right with God by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
3. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham had confidence in God, and it was credited/considered unto him as righteousness.'
4. Now to the one who labors, his wages/pay are not considered to be a gift but that which is owed/a debt.
5. And to the one who does not labor but has confidence in Him who declares one right with God those who are ungodly/impious, his confidence in God is credited/considered unto him as righteousness,
6. just as King David also speaks of the declaration of blessedness of the one to whom God considers right with Himself separately from works:
7. 'Blessed/Happy are those whose breaking of the law is forgiven/sent away/ left alone, and whose failures/missing of the mark of perfection are covered;
8. Blessed/Happy is the man against whom the Lord will not consider his sin/missing of the mark of perfection.'
My Comments:
1. Paul is focusing on the Jews. They were decendants of Abraham.
2. Paul says that if Abraham was justified by God according to his deeds that Abraham would have something to boast about!
Lets look at Genesis 15:1-6
God's Covenant With Abram
"After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.' But Abram said, 'O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?' And Abram said, 'You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.' Then the word of the LORD came to him: 'This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.' He took him outside and said, 'Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness."
And here in Genesis 17:1-14 we see the sign of the covenant, circumcision!
The Covenant of Circumcision
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.' Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 'As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.' Then God said to Abraham, 'As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.'"
Here is an interesting article on circumcision!
http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2204
Also, many think that the act of going to sacrifice His some also is how God justified Abraham. But the Scripture clearly states that because Abram believed, God credited it to him as righteousness!
If Abraham was justified by works, he would indeed have something to boast about! And no one boast before the LORD, Paul in Galations 6:14 says, "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
3. Here Paul states what was written about Abraham in the Scriptures.
Also Paul really expands on this whole topic of Saved by Faith in His letter to the Galations!
4. Now Paul jumps into His proof! If you work, what you get is earned; it is not a gift, whoever you worked for owes you your wages!
5. And if someone does not work but has faith in God to declare him righteous even though he has sinned, this mans faith in God is credited, given to him as righteousness; it is not earned!
6. King David also wrote about this, the one who is blessed by God and considered by God to be justifed apart from works:
7. These last two verses are direct quotes from the Old Testament. Meaning: Blessed are those who break the laws of God and are forgiven of their sins.
8. And: Blessed is the man that God does not count his sins against him.
In Christ,
David
Galations 2:15-5:26
Justified by Faith
"We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Galatians 3
By Faith, or by Works of the Law?
Foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith-- just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'?
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.' So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.' But the law is not of faith, rather 'The one who does them shall live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'--so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
The Law and the Promise
To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, 'And to offsprings,' referring to many, but referring to one, 'And to your offspring,' who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4
Sons and Heirs
I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of the blessing you felt? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Example of Hagar and Sarah
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, 'Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.' Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? 'Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.' So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Galatians 5
Christ Has Set Us Free
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Walk by the Spirit
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."
A very interesting passage is Chapter 5:2-6
"Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."
In Christ,
David
Post a Comment
<< Home