Romans 4Romans4

King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. Abraham Justified by Faith

   (Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)

2. 1KJVWhat shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?BSBBSB: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?
3. 2KJVFor if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.BSBBSB: If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
4. 3KJVFor what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.BSBBSB: For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
5. 4KJVNow to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.BSBBSB: Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
6. 5KJVBut to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.BSBBSB: However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
7. 6KJVEven as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,BSBBSB: And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
8. 7KJVSaying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.BSBBSB: “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
9. 8KJVBlessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.BSBBSB: Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
10. 9KJVCometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.BSBBSB: 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.
11. 10KJVHow was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.BSBBSB: In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.
12. 11KJVAnd 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:BSBBSB: 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.
13. 12KJVAnd 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.BSBBSB: 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.

14. Abraham Receives the Promise

    (Genesis 15:8–21)

15. 13KJVFor 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.BSBBSB: 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.
16. 14KJVFor if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:BSBBSB: For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,
17. 15KJVBecause the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.BSBBSB: because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
18. 16KJVTherefore 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,BSBBSB: 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.
19. 17KJV(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.BSBBSB: 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.
20. 18KJVWho 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.BSBBSB: 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.”
21. 19KJVAnd 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 Sara’s womb:BSBBSB: 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.
22. 20KJVHe staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;BSBBSB: Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
23. 21KJVAnd being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.BSBBSB: being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
24. 22KJVAnd therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.BSBBSB: This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
25. 23KJVNow it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;BSBBSB: Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,
26. 24KJVBut for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;BSBBSB: but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
27. 25KJVWho was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.BSBBSB: He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.