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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24 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 He 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

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular promise ἐπαγγελία G1860 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular [and] G2228 Conjunction his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular offspring σπέρματι G4690 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular that τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular he αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular would be εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active heir κληρονόμον G2818 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [of the] world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular was not Οὐ G3756 Adverb [given] through διὰ G1223 Preposition [the] law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction through διὰ G1223 Preposition [the] righteousness δικαιοσύνης G1343 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular that comes by faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 14

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction those οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural [who live by] ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [are] heirs κληρονόμοι G2818 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular faith πίστις G4102 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular is useless κεκένωται G2758 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular promise ἐπαγγελία G1860 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular is worthless κατήργηται G2673 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 15

Original words

because γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular law νόμος G3551 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular brings κατεργάζεται G2716 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular wrath ὀργὴν G3709 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular And δὲ G1161 Conjunction where οὗ G3757 Adverb there is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular no οὐκ G3756 Adverb law νόμος G3551 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular [there is] no οὐδὲ G3761 Adverb transgression παράβασις G3847 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Verse 16

Original words

Therefore Διὰ G1223 Preposition [the promise comes] τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular by ἐκ G1537 Preposition faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular [it] ἐπαγγελίαν G1860 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular may rest on κατὰ G2596 Preposition grace χάριν G5485 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [and] may be εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active guaranteed βεβαίαν G949 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular to all παντὶ G3956 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular [Abraham’s] τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular offspring σπέρματι G4690 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular not οὐ G3756 Adverb only μόνον G3440 Adverb to those who are τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular of ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction also καὶ G2532 Conjunction to those who are τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular of ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] faith πίστεως G4102 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of Abraham Ἀβραάμ G11 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [He] ὅς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [the] father πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 17

Original words

As καθὼς G2531 Adverb it is written γέγραπται G1125 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I have made τέθεικά G5087 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular a father Πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of many πολλῶν G4183 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural nations ἐθνῶν G1484 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural [He is our father] in the presence of κατέναντι G2713 Preposition God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular in whom οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular he believed ἐπίστευσεν G4100 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the [God who] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular gives life ζωοποιοῦντος G2227 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular to the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural dead νεκροὺς G3498 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction calls καλοῦντος G2564 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular [into] being ὄντα G1510 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural what τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural {does} not μὴ G3361 Adverb yet ὡς G5613 Adverb exist ὄντα G1510 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Genesis 17:5
Verse 18

Original words

Against παρ’ G3844 Preposition all hope ἐλπίδα G1680 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [Abraham] ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition hope ἐλπίδι G1680 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular believed ἐπίστευσεν G4100 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and so εἰς G1519 Preposition - αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular became γενέσθαι G1096 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle [the] father πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular of many πολλῶν G4183 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural nations ἐθνῶν G1484 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural just as κατὰ G2596 Preposition - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular he had been told εἰρημένον G2046 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular So Οὕτως G3779 Adverb {shall} your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular offspring σπέρμα G4690 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular be ἔσται G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Genesis 15:5
Verse 19

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction Without μὴ G3361 Adverb weakening ἀσθενήσας G770 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular in [his] τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular faith πίστει G4102 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular he acknowledged κατενόησεν G2657 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv ἤδη G2235 Adverb decrepitness νενεκρωμένον G3499 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular of his ἑαυτοῦ G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular body σῶμα G4983 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular (since he was ὑπάρχων G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular about που G4225 Adverb a hundred years old ἑκατονταετής G1541 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular lifelessness νέκρωσιν G3500 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of Sarah’s Σάρρας G4564 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular womb μήτρας G3388 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 20

Original words

Yet δὲ G1161 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb he did not waver διεκρίθη G1252 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular through disbelief ἀπιστίᾳ G570 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular in εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular promise ἐπαγγελίαν G1860 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction was strengthened ἐνεδυναμώθη G1743 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular in his τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular faith πίστει G4102 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular [and] gave δοὺς G1325 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular glory δόξαν G1391 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 21

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction being fully persuaded that πληροφορηθεὶς G4135 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular [God] was ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction able δυνατός G1415 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular to do ποιῆσαι G4160 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He had promised ἐπήγγελται G1861 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 22

Original words

This is why διὸ G1352 Conjunction - καὶ G2532 Conjunction it was credited Ἐλογίσθη G3049 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular to him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular as εἰς G1519 Preposition righteousness δικαιοσύνην G1343 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Genesis 15:6
Verse 23

Original words

Now δὲ G1161 Conjunction [the words] ὅτι G3754 Conjunction it was credited Ἐλογίσθη G3049 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular to him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular were written ἐγράφη G1125 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular not Οὐκ G3756 Adverb only μόνον G3440 Adverb for δι’ G1223 Preposition [Abraham] αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 24

Original words

but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction also καὶ G2532 Conjunction for δι’ G1223 Preposition us ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural to whom οἷς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural vvv μέλλει G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [righteousness] will be credited λογίζεσθαι G3049 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive for us who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural believe πιστεύουσιν G4100 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural in ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition Him who τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular raised ἐγείραντα G1453 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριον G2962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] dead νεκρῶν G3498 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 25

Original words

[He] ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular was delivered over to death παρεδόθη G3860 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular for διὰ G1223 Preposition our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural trespasses παραπτώματα G3900 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction was raised to life ἠγέρθη G1453 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular for διὰ G1223 Preposition our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular justification δικαίωσιν G1347 Noun - 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.