Romans 4

¹ What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?

² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” CCC · Fathers

⁴ Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.

⁵ But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

⁶ Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

⁸ Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”

⁹ Is this blessing then pronounced only on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

¹⁰ How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. CCC

¹² He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision. Fathers

¹³ For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

¹⁴ For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

¹⁵ For the law produces wrath; for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.

¹⁶ For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, 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. CCC

¹⁷ As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. CCC

¹⁸ Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.” CCC

¹⁹ Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. CCC

²⁰ Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, CCC

²¹ and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. CCC

²² Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”

²³ Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,

²⁴ but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification. CCC

¹ WWhat shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh?

² For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.

³ For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God: and it was reputed to him unto justice. CCC · Fathers

⁴ Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace but according to debt.

⁵ 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.

⁶ As David also termeth the blessedness of a man to whom God reputeth justice without works:

⁷ Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven: and whose sins are covered.

⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ How then was it reputed? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

¹¹ 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: CCC

¹² And he 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 faith that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham. Fathers

¹³ 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.

¹⁴ For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void: the promise is made of no effect.

¹⁵ For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

¹⁶ 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, CCC

¹⁷ (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. CCC

¹⁸ 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. CCC

¹⁹ 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. CCC

²⁰ In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust: but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God: CCC

²¹ Most fully knowing that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform. CCC

²² And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.

²³ Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice,

²⁴ 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,

²⁵ Who was delivered up for our sins and rose again for our justification. CCC