Abraham Justified by Faith (Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)
1 WBS What shall we then say that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? BSB BSB: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?
2 WBS 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 WBS Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. BSB BSB: Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
5 WBS But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 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 WBS Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works, BSB BSB: And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 WBS Saying , 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 WBS Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. BSB BSB: Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
9 WBS Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only , or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.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 WBS How then was it reckoned? 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 WBS 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 are not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also; 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 WBS 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. 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 WBS 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. 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 WBS For if they who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise 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 WBS Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. BSB BSB: because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
16 WBS 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; 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 WBS (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations) before him whom he believed, even God, who reviveth the dead, and calleth those things which are not, as though they were. 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 WBS Who against hope believed with hope, that he should become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, 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 WBS And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. 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 WBS He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong 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 WBS And being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. BSB BSB: being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
22 WBS And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. BSB BSB: This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
23 WBS Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; BSB BSB: Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,
24 WBS But for us also, to whom it will be imputed, if we believe on him that raised Jesus 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 WBS Who was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification. BSB BSB: He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.