Commentary on Romans

1What shall we then say, that Abraham, our father according to the flesh, had obtained?

2For if Abraham was by works justified, he has what he may glory in, but not before God.

3But what saith the Scripture? “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness.”

4To him indeed who works the reward is not imputed as a grace, but as a debt:

5But to him who works not, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, imputed is his faith for righteousness.

6As David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,

7“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

8Blessed is the man to whom God has not imputed sin.”

9Wasthen this blessedness on the circumcision only,or also on the uncircumcision? for we say, that imputed to Abraham was faith for righteousness:

10How then was it imputed? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision;

11And he received the sign of circumcision asa seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all who believe while in uncircumcision, in order that to them also righteousness might be imputed, —

12And the father of the circumcision, not to those who are in circumcision only, but who walk in the footsteps of that faith which our father Abraham had in uncircumcision.

13It was not indeed by the law that the promise was to Abraham and to his seed, that he should be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.

14For if they who are of the law are heirs, thenmade void is faith, and abolished is the promise.

15For the law causeth wrath: but where no law is, there is also no transgression.

16It is therefore by faith, that it might bethrough grace, in order that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but which also is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17(As it is written, “The father of many nations have I made thee,”) before God whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls things which are not, as though they were:

18Who against hope believed through hope, that he would be the father of many nations, according to what had been said, “So shall thy seed be.”

19And being not in faith weak, he considered not his own body, now dead, when he was nearly an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sarah;

20Nor did he indeed search into the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened by faith, giving glory to God;

21And being assuredly persuaded, that what he had promised he was also able to perform:

22And it was therefore imputed to him for righteousness.

23Now it was not written on his account only, that it was imputed to him

24But also on our account, to whom it shall be imputed, even to uswho believe on him, who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification.