Abraham Justified by Faith (Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)
1 DRA What shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh. BSB BSB: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?
2 DRA For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. BSB BSB: If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
4 DRA Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt. BSB BSB: Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
5 DRA But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God. BSB BSB: However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6 DRA As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputeth justice without works: BSB BSB: And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 DRA Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. BSB BSB: “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 DRA Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin. BSB BSB: Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
9 DRA This blessedness then, doth it remain in the circumcision only, or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that unto Abraham faith was reputed to justice. BSB BSB: Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.
10 DRA How then was it reputed? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. BSB BSB: In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.
11 DRA And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the justice of the faith, which he had, being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised, that unto them also it may be reputed to justice: BSB BSB: And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
12 DRA And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham. BSB BSB: And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Abraham Receives the Promise (Genesis 15:8–21)
13 DRA 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 justice of faith. BSB BSB: For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14 DRA For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of no effect. BSB BSB: For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,
15 DRA For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression. BSB BSB: because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
16 DRA Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm 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, BSB BSB: Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
17 DRA (As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations,) before God, whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead; and calleth those things that are not, as those that are. BSB BSB: As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
18 DRA Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be. BSB BSB: Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
19 DRA And he was not weak in faith; neither did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara. BSB BSB: Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
20 DRA In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God: BSB BSB: Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 DRA Most fully knowing, that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform. BSB BSB: being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
22 DRA And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice. BSB BSB: This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
23 DRA Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice, BSB BSB: Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,
24 DRA But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him, that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead, BSB BSB: but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 DRA Who was delivered up for our sins, and rose again for our justification. BSB BSB: He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.