Focused Passage

Romans 4:13-25

Abraham Justified by Faith and the Promise Secured by Grace

Paul moves from Abraham's justification by faith, to David's testimony of credited righteousness and forgiven sin, to Abraham's pre-circumcision status as father of all believers, to the promise secured by grace through faith, and finally to the Christ-centered fulfillment of faith in Jesus' death and resurrection.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13For 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.

14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16Therefore, 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.

17As 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.

18Against 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.”

19Without 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.

20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

21being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

23Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

24but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Original words

ForγὰρG1063ConjunctiontheG3588Article - Nominative Feminine SingularpromiseἐπαγγελίαG1860Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular-τῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine Singularto AbrahamἈβραὰμG11Noun - Dative Masculine Singular[and]G2228ConjunctionhisαὐτοῦG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular-τῷG3588Article - Dative Neuter SingularoffspringσπέρματιG4690Noun - Dative Neuter SingularthatτὸG3588Article - Nominative Neuter SingularheαὐτὸνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singularwould beεἶναιG1510Verb - Present Infinitive ActiveheirκληρονόμονG2818Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular[of the] worldκόσμουG2889Noun - Genitive Masculine Singularwas notΟὐG3756Adverb[given] throughδιὰG1223Preposition[the] lawνόμουG3551Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularbutἀλλὰG235ConjunctionthroughδιὰG1223Preposition[the] righteousnessδικαιοσύνηςG1343Noun - Genitive Feminine Singularthat comes by faithπίστεωςG4102Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 14

Original words

ForγὰρG1063ConjunctionifεἰG1487ConjunctionthoseοἱG3588Article - Nominative Masculine Plural[who live by]ἐκG1537Preposition[the] lawνόμουG3551Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular[are] heirsκληρονόμοιG2818Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural-G3588Article - Nominative Feminine SingularfaithπίστιςG4102Noun - Nominative Feminine Singularis uselessκεκένωταιG2758Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctiontheG3588Article - Nominative Feminine SingularpromiseἐπαγγελίαG1860Noun - Nominative Feminine Singularis worthlessκατήργηταιG2673Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 15

Original words

becauseγὰρG1063ConjunctiontheG3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularlawνόμοςG3551Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularbringsκατεργάζεταιG2716Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person SingularwrathὀργὴνG3709Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularAndδὲG1161ConjunctionwhereοὗG3757Adverbthere isἔστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularnoοὐκG3756AdverblawνόμοςG3551Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular[there is] noοὐδὲG3761AdverbtransgressionπαράβασιςG3847Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Verse 16

Original words

ThereforeΔιὰG1223Preposition[the promise comes]τοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularbyἐκG1537PrepositionfaithπίστεωςG4102Noun - Genitive Feminine Singularso thatἵναG2443Conjunction. . .εἰςG1519Preposition-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter SingularvvvτὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine Singular[it]ἐπαγγελίανG1860Noun - Accusative Feminine Singularmay rest onκατὰG2596PrepositiongraceχάρινG5485Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular[and] may beεἶναιG1510Verb - Present Infinitive ActiveguaranteedβεβαίανG949Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singularto allπαντὶG3956Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular[Abraham’s]τῷG3588Article - Dative Neuter SingularoffspringσπέρματιG4690Noun - Dative Neuter SingularnotοὐG3756AdverbonlyμόνονG3440Adverbto those who areτῷG3588Article - Dative Neuter SingularofἐκG1537PrepositiontheτοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine SingularlawνόμουG3551Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularbutἀλλὰG235ConjunctionalsoκαὶG2532Conjunctionto those who areτῷG3588Article - Dative Neuter SingularofἐκG1537Preposition[the] faithπίστεωςG4102Noun - Genitive Feminine Singularof AbrahamἈβραάμG11Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular[He]ὅςG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine SingularisἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular[the] fatherπατὴρG3962Noun - Nominative Masculine Singularof usἡμῶνG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person PluralallπάντωνG3956Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 17

Original words

AsκαθὼςG2531Adverbit is writtenγέγραπταιG1125Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular-ὅτιG3754ConjunctionI have madeτέθεικάG5087Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularyouσεG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singulara fatherΠατέραG3962Noun - Accusative Masculine Singularof manyπολλῶνG4183Adjective - Genitive Neuter PluralnationsἐθνῶνG1484Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural[He is our father] in the presence ofκατέναντιG2713PrepositionGodΘεοῦG2316Noun - Genitive Masculine Singularin whomοὗG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singularhe believedἐπίστευσενG4100Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularthe [God who]τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine Singulargives lifeζωοποιοῦντοςG2227Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singularto theτοὺςG3588Article - Accusative Masculine PluraldeadνεκροὺςG3498Adjective - Accusative Masculine PluralandκαὶG2532ConjunctioncallsκαλοῦντοςG2564Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular[into] beingὄνταG1510Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter PluralwhatτὰG3588Article - Accusative Neuter Plural{does} notμὴG3361AdverbyetὡςG5613AdverbexistὄνταG1510Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Genesis 17:5
Verse 18

Original words

Againstπαρ’G3844Prepositionall hopeἐλπίδαG1680Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular[Abraham]ὃςG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singularinἐπ’G1909PrepositionhopeἐλπίδιG1680Noun - Dative Feminine SingularbelievedἐπίστευσενG4100Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularand soεἰςG1519Preposition-αὐτὸνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter SingularbecameγενέσθαιG1096Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle[the] fatherπατέραG3962Noun - Accusative Masculine Singularof manyπολλῶνG4183Adjective - Genitive Neuter PluralnationsἐθνῶνG1484Noun - Genitive Neuter Pluraljust asκατὰG2596Preposition-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter Singularhe had been toldεἰρημένονG2046Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter SingularSoΟὕτωςG3779Adverb{shall} yourσουG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular-τὸG3588Article - Nominative Neuter SingularoffspringσπέρμαG4690Noun - Nominative Neuter SingularbeἔσταιG1510Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Genesis 15:5
Verse 19

Original words

-καὶG2532ConjunctionWithoutμὴG3361AdverbweakeningἀσθενήσαςG770Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singularin [his]τῇG3588Article - Dative Feminine SingularfaithπίστειG4102Noun - Dative Feminine Singularhe acknowledgedκατενόησενG2657Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingulartheτὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter SingularvvvἤδηG2235AdverbdecrepitnessνενεκρωμένονG3499Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singularof hisἑαυτοῦG1438Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person SingularbodyσῶμαG4983Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular(since he wasὑπάρχωνG5225Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularaboutπουG4225Adverba hundred years oldἑκατονταετήςG1541Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctiontheτὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine SingularlifelessnessνέκρωσινG3500Noun - Accusative Feminine Singularof Sarah’sΣάρραςG4564Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular-τῆςG3588Article - Genitive Feminine SingularwombμήτραςG3388Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 20

Original words

YetδὲG1161ConjunctionvvvοὐG3756Adverbhe did not waverδιεκρίθηG1252Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular-τῇG3588Article - Dative Feminine Singularthrough disbeliefἀπιστίᾳG570Noun - Dative Feminine SingularinεἰςG1519PrepositiontheτὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine SingularpromiseἐπαγγελίανG1860Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular-τοῦG3588Article - Genitive Masculine Singularof GodΘεοῦG2316Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularbutἀλλὰG235Conjunctionwas strengthenedἐνεδυναμώθηG1743Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singularin hisτῇG3588Article - Dative Feminine SingularfaithπίστειG4102Noun - Dative Feminine Singular[and] gaveδοὺςG1325Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingulargloryδόξανG1391Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular-τῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine Singularto GodΘεῷG2316Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 21

Original words

-καὶG2532Conjunctionbeing fully persuaded thatπληροφορηθεὶςG4135Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular[God] wasἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular-καὶG2532ConjunctionableδυνατόςG1415Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singularto doποιῆσαιG4160Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active-ὅτιG3754ConjunctionwhatG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularHe had promisedἐπήγγελταιG1861Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 22

Original words

This is whyδιὸG1352Conjunction-καὶG2532Conjunctionit was creditedἘλογίσθηG3049Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singularto himαὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularasεἰςG1519PrepositionrighteousnessδικαιοσύνηνG1343Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Genesis 15:6
Verse 23

Original words

NowδὲG1161Conjunction[the words]ὅτιG3754Conjunctionit was creditedἘλογίσθηG3049Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singularto himαὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singularwere writtenἐγράφηG1125Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularnotΟὐκG3756AdverbonlyμόνονG3440Adverbforδι’G1223Preposition[Abraham]αὐτὸνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 24

Original words

butἀλλὰG235ConjunctionalsoκαὶG2532Conjunctionforδι’G1223PrepositionusἡμᾶςG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Pluralto whomοἷςG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine PluralvvvμέλλειG3195Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular[righteousness] will be creditedλογίζεσθαιG3049Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passivefor us whoτοῖςG3588Article - Dative Masculine PluralbelieveπιστεύουσινG4100Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine PluralinἐπὶG1909PrepositionHim whoτὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularraisedἐγείρανταG1453Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦνG2424Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularourἡμῶνG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural-τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularLordΚύριονG2962Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularfromἐκG1537Preposition[the] deadνεκρῶνG3498Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 25

Original words

[He]ὃςG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singularwas delivered over to deathπαρεδόθηG3860Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularforδιὰG1223PrepositionourἡμῶνG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural-τὰG3588Article - Accusative Neuter PluraltrespassesπαραπτώματαG3900Noun - Accusative Neuter PluralandκαὶG2532Conjunctionwas raised to lifeἠγέρθηG1453Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularforδιὰG1223PrepositionourἡμῶνG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural-τὴνG3588Article - Accusative Feminine SingularjustificationδικαίωσινG1347Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.