Romans 4:1–12

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor, n o has found? 2 If Abraham was * justified p by works, q he has something to brag about—but not before God. r 3 For what does the Scripture say?

Abraham believed God,

and it was credited to him for righteousness. s t

4 Now to the one who works, u pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, v w his faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works:

7 How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven

and whose sins are covered!

8 How joyful is the man

the Lord will never charge with sin! x y

Abraham Justified before Circumcision

9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised, z then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. a b 10 In what way then was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision c as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith d e while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father f of all who believe g but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. 12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.