21  But now without law righteousness of God is manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets; 22  righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ towards all, and upon all those who believe: for there is no difference; 23  for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24  being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25  whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of his righteousness, in respect of the passing by the sins that had taken place before, through the forbearance of God; 26  for the shewing forth of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just, and justify him that is of the faith of Jesus. 27  Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what law? of works? Nay, but by law of faith; 28  for we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law. 29  Is God the God of Jews only? is he not of the nations also? Yea, of nations also: 30  since indeed it is one God who shall justify the circumcision on the principle of faith, and uncircumcision by faith. 31  Do we then make void law by faith? Far be the thought: no, but we establish law.

Chapter 4

1  What shall we say then that Abraham our father according to flesh has found? 2  For if Abraham has been justified on the principle of works, he has whereof to boast: but not before God; 3  for what does the scripture say? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 4  Now to him that works the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but of debt: 5  but to him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. 6  Even as David also declares the blessedness of the man to whom God reckons righteousness without works: 7  Blessed they whose lawlessnesses have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered: 8  blessed the man to whom the Lord shall not at all reckon sin.

9  Does this blessedness then rest on the circumcision, or also on the uncircumcision? For we say that faith has been reckoned to Abraham as righteousness. 10  How then has it been reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11  And he received the sign of circumcision as seal of the righteousness of faith which he had being in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all them that believe being in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned to them also; 12  and father of circumcision, not only to those who are of the circumcision, but to those also who walk in the steps of the faith, during uncircumcision, of our father Abraham. 13  For it was not by law that the promise was to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but by righteousness of faith. 14  For if they which are of law be heirs, faith is made vain, and the promise made of no effect. 15  For law works wrath; but where no law is neither is there transgression. 16  Therefore it is on the principle of faith, that it might be according to grace, in order to the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of Abraham’s faith, who is father of us all,

17  (according as it is written, I have made thee father of many nations,) before the God whom he believed, who quickens the dead, and calls the things which be not as being; 18  who against hope believed in hope to his becoming father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be: 19  and not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body already become dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadening of Sarah’s womb, 20  and hesitated not at the promise of God through unbelief; but found strength in faith, giving glory to God; 21  and being fully persuaded that what he has promised he is able also to do; 22  wherefore also it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

23  Now it was not written on his account alone that it was reckoned to him, 24  but on ours also, to whom, believing on him who has raised from among the dead Jesus our Lord, 25  who has been delivered for our offences and has been raised for our justification, it will be reckoned.

Chapter 5

1  Therefore having been justified on the principle of faith, we have peace towards God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2  by whom we have also access by faith into this favour in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only that, but we also boast in tribulations, knowing that tribulation works endurance; 4  and endurance, experience; and experience, hope; 5  and hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us:

6  for we being still without strength, in the due time Christ has died for the ungodly. 7  For scarcely for the just man will one die, for perhaps for the good man some one might also dare to die; 8  but God commends his love to us, in that, we being still sinners, Christ has died for us. 9  Much rather therefore, having been now justified in the power of his blood, we shall be saved by him from wrath. 10  For if, being enemies, we have been reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much rather, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in the power of his life. 11  And not only that, but we are making our boast in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom now we have received the reconciliation. 12  For this cause, even as by one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death; and thus death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13  (for until law sin was in the world; but sin is not put to account when there is no law; 14  but death reigned from Adam until Moses, even upon those who had not sinned in the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him to come. 15  But shall not the act of favour be as the offence? For if by the offence of one the many have died, much rather has the grace of God, and the free gift in grace, which is by the one man Jesus Christ, abounded unto the many. 16  And shall not as by one that has sinned be the gift? For the judgment was of one to condemnation, but the act of favour, of many offences unto justification. 17  For if by the offence of the one death reigned by the one, much rather shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the free gift of righteousness, reign in life by the one Jesus Christ:) 18  so then as it was by one offence towards all men to condemnation, so by one righteousness towards all men for justification of life. 19  For as indeed by the disobedience of the one man the many have been constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted righteous. 20  But law came in, in order that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded grace has overabounded, 21  in order that, even as sin has reigned in the power of death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.