AISBT ReaderRom 4:1–25
Notes · 24 on Rom 4:1–25
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Notes · Rom 4:1–25

Abraham, Justified by Faith, and the Father of All Who Believe

24 approved team notes on Rom 4:1–25.
Read Rom 4:1–25

Rom 4:1

exegeticalRom 4:1–25
Introduction to Romans 4:1–25: Abraham as the Scripture proof of justification by faith
  • SaysRomans 4 turns to Abraham (4:1); its text is Gen 15:6 (4:3), which returns in 4:9, 22–23; it ends with those who believe in him who raised Jesus (4:24).
  • ImpliesRomans 4 is the Scripture proof of 3:21–31: Abraham and David show that God credits righteousness apart from works, before circumcision, and by promise, and Abraham's faith is the pattern for believers in the God who raised Jesus.
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exegeticalRom 4:1–8
Abraham believed God, and David's blessing: righteousness credited apart from works (Romans 4:1–8)
  • UncertainWhether in 4:1 Abraham is the subject of εὑρηκέναι with κατὰ σάρκα going with προπάτορα (lean; BSB), or κατὰ σάρκα goes with εὑρηκέναι, 'found by the flesh' (alternative), or there is a break after ἐροῦμεν, 'Have we found Abraham to be our forefather according to the flesh?' (alternative; Wright).
  • SaysIf Abraham was justified by works he has a ground for boasting, but not before God; Scripture says Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (4:2–3; Gen 15:6, in the LXX form, with δέ and the name Abraham).
  • SaysThe worker's wage is credited as an obligation, not a gift; to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness (4:4–5).
  • ImpliesThe wage picture excludes working of any kind as the ground of the verdict, not only Israel's distinguishing practices; God justifies the ungodly (4:4–5).
  • SaysDavid speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works, quoting Ps 32:1–2 in the LXX form (4:6–8).
  • ImpliesCrediting righteousness and not counting sin are two sides of one verdict, joined by the verb shared by Gen 15:6 and Ps 32:2.
  • ImpliesPaul and James do not contradict each other: Paul asks on what ground God credits righteousness and answers, by faith apart from works (4:4–6); James asks what faith is genuine and points to the offering of Isaac (Gen 22), long after Gen 15:6, which showed the faith already credited (Jas 2:21–23; Jas 2:21–24 is treated with James).
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historicalRom 4:1–5; Rom 4:13
Abraham the tested law-keeper (4:2) and 'heir of the world' (4:13)
  • SaysRom 4:2–3 says that if Abraham was justified by works he would have grounds to boast, but not before God, and quotes Gen 15:6; Rom 4:13 says the promise that he would be heir of the world came through the righteousness of faith.
  • ImpliesRom 4:4–5 implies that the crediting of righteousness rests on God who justifies the ungodly, not on Abraham's tested faithfulness.
  • UncertainWhether Paul in Rom 4:2–3 answers 1 Macc 2:52 or Sir 44:20 in particular.
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languageRom 4:1
Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν εὑρηκέναι Ἀβραὰμ τὸν προπάτορα ἡμῶν κατὰ σάρκα;
  • Says4:1 asks τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν about Abraham, τὸν προπάτορα ἡμῶν κατὰ σάρκα, with the perfect infinitive εὑρηκέναι.
  • UncertainWhether κατὰ σάρκα goes with προπάτορα and Abraham is the subject of εὑρηκέναι (lean; word order, 1:3; 9:3, 5; 4:2), or κατὰ σάρκα goes with εὑρηκέναι, 'found by the flesh' (alternative), or the sentence breaks after ἐροῦμεν, 'Have we found Abraham to be our forefather according to the flesh?' (alternative; Wright).
  • Implies4:1 turns to Abraham as the test case for 3:27–31, boasting excluded and one God justifying circumcised and uncircumcised by faith.
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Rom 4:2

languageRom 4:2; Rom 4:3; Rom 4:4; Rom 4:5
καύχημα … κατὰ χάριν / κατὰ ὀφείλημα … λογίζεται εἰς δικαιοσύνην (4:2–5)
  • SaysIf Abraham was justified by works, he has a καύχημα, but not before God (4:2).
  • SaysScripture says Abraham's faith was credited (λογίζομαι) as righteousness; the worker's wage is credited as an obligation, not as a gift, while the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly has his faith credited εἰς δικαιοσύνην (4:3–5).
  • UncertainWhether εἰς δικαιοσύνην is predicate, 'as righteousness' (lean; λογίζεσθαι εἰς as in Gen 15:6 LXX; 2:26; 4:6), or 'with a view to righteousness' (alternative).
  • ImpliesThe crediting is God's forensic verdict apart from works; faith is the instrument, not the ground, and is not itself the righteousness credited (4:4–6; 3:24–26; 5:18–19; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9).
  • ImpliesThe wage picture of 4:4–5 excludes working of any kind as the ground, not only boundary-marker works; Dunn reads it as illustration only (by reference).
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Rom 4:3

exegeticalRom 1:17; Rom 4:3–8; Rom 5:18–19; Phil 3:9
Doctrinal note: the imputation of righteousness (grounded in Romans 4:3–8; 5:18–19; Philippians 3:9)
  • ImpliesThe righteousness God gives believers is credited (λογίζομαι) to them apart from works, not produced in them as the ground of acceptance (Rom 4:3–8; Gen 15:6; Ps 32:1–2).
  • ImpliesRom 5:18–19 grounds the many's righteous standing in the obedience of the one man, parallel to Adam.
  • ImpliesPhil 3:9 contrasts one's own righteousness with the righteousness from God through faith.
  • UncertainWhether the passages require imputation of Christ's active obedience is debated among Protestants; the team holds that 5:18–19 with Phil 3:9 supports it (WCF 11.1).
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exegeticalRom 4:3–8
Doctrinal note: God credits righteousness, and faith is the instrument (Romans 4:3–8)
  • Impliesλογίζομαι in 4:3–8 is God's forensic crediting of righteousness apart from works (grounds in note.language.Rom.4.2-Rom.4.5.logizomai-misthos).
  • UncertainWhether εἰς δικαιοσύνην means 'as righteousness' (lean, as the Greek note: the LXX idiom) or 'with a view to righteousness' (alternative).
  • ImpliesFaith is the instrument, not the ground, and is not itself the righteousness credited (4:4–5; 3:24–26; 5:18–19; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9).
  • ImpliesBy synthesis of 4:3–8 with 3:24–26; 5:18–19; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9, the righteousness credited is Christ's righteousness imputed (note.exegetical.Rom.1.17.imputation).
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languageRom 4:3; Rom 4:9; Rom 4:22; Rom 4:23
Rom 4:3: Gen 15:6 in the MT, the LXX, and Paul
  • SaysGen 15:6 MT וְהֶאֱמִן בַּיהוָה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לּוֹ צְדָקָה: וְהֶאֱמִן waw + Hiphil perfect; וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ Qal wayyiqtol 3ms + 3fs suffix (BDB p. 362); צְדָקָה without a preposition.
  • SaysLXX Gen 15:6 καὶ ἐπίστευσεν Ἀβρὰμ τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην (passive, Abram named, εἰς); Paul has δέ and the name Abraham, repeating it at 4:9, 22–23.
  • SaysThe LXX makes the verb passive (ἐλογίσθη) and Paul keeps the passive (4:3, 9, 22); Paul names God as the one who credits (ὁ θεὸς λογίζεται, 4:6). In Romans the reckoning is God's.
  • UncertainSubject and suffix of וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ: lean the Lord reckoned Abram's believing (Rom 4:9 ἡ πίστις; Ps 106:31 Niphal); alternative Abram as subject.
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Rom 4:4

exegeticalRom 2:6–16; Rom 3:20–28; Rom 4:4–5; Rom 5:1; Rom 8:1; 2 Cor 5:10
Doctrinal note: judgment according to works and justification by faith (grounded in Romans 2:6, 16; 3:20–28; 4:4–5; 5:1; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:10)
  • SaysPaul teaches both judgment according to deeds for all, believers included (2:6, 16; 2 Cor 5:10), and justification of the ungodly by faith apart from works (3:20, 28; 4:4–5; 5:1; 8:1).
  • ImpliesJudgment according to deeds is real and impartial and is not a second way of salvation alongside faith (2:6, 9–11, 16; 3:20–28; 4:4–5; 2 Cor 5:10).
  • ImpliesWorks never form part of the ground of the verdict of justification (3:20–28; 4:4–5; 5:1; 8:1); an account in which the whole life's works form part of the ground of the final verdict falls outside this boundary.
  • UncertainWhether 2:7, 10, 13 describe believers' deeds appearing at the judgment as evidence of a living faith; the two readings differ, and it is left open.
  • SaysPaul speaks of reward and loss for a believer's work at the Day, though the builder himself will be saved (1 Cor 3:12–15).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain WCF public domain 🔒︎ Wright, NIB Romans Copyrighted

Rom 4:6

languageRom 4:6; Rom 4:7; Rom 4:8
Rom 4:7–8: Ps 32:1–2 (LXX 31:1–2) and the verb shared with Gen 15:6
  • SaysPs 32:1–2 MT אַשְׁרֵי נְשׂוּי־פֶּשַׁע כְּסוּי חֲטָאָה; אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם לֹא יַחְשֹׁב יְהוָה לוֹ עָוֺן: singular passive participles in v. 1; v. 2 the Qal imperfect of the verb in Gen 15:6.
  • SaysLXX Ps 31:1–2 Μακάριοι ὧν ἀφέθησαν αἱ ἀνομίαι, καὶ ὧν ἐπεκαλύφθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι … μακάριος ἀνὴρ οὗ οὐ μὴ λογίσηται Κύριος ἁμαρτίαν (plural, aorist passives, ἀνήρ, ἁμαρτίαν); Paul matches the LXX, without the title.
  • ImpliesPaul joins Ps 32 to Gen 15:6 through the shared verb (חָשַׁב, λογίζομαι); not counting sin and crediting righteousness belong to one verdict (4:6–8).
  • UncertainWhether Paul consciously uses the later rabbinic rule of linking texts by a shared word (gezerah shavah).
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Rom 4:9

exegeticalRom 4:9–12
Righteousness credited before circumcision; the sign and seal; the father of all who believe (Romans 4:9–12)
  • SaysPaul asks whether the blessing is for the circumcised only, and answers that Abraham's faith was credited before his circumcision, not after (4:9–10).
  • ImpliesThe order of Genesis settles it: Gen 15:6 precedes Ishmael's birth at eighty-six (Gen 16:16), and Abraham's circumcision came at ninety-nine (17:1, 24).
  • SaysAbraham received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith he had while uncircumcised (4:11); σημεῖον matches Gen 17:11 LXX, and 'seal' is Paul's word.
  • UncertainWhether σημεῖον περιτομῆς is 'the sign, namely circumcision' (lean: epexegetic genitive; Gen 17:11) or 'the sign belonging to circumcision' (alternative).
  • ImpliesThe sign and seal confirmed a righteousness already credited by faith and did not cause it (4:10–11).
  • UncertainThe use of 4:11 in debates on baptism: paedobaptist readings (WCF 28) and credobaptist readings (2LBC 29) are named on equal terms; the team takes no lean.
  • SaysAbraham is the father of all who believe while uncircumcised, so that righteousness is credited to them, and father of the circumcised who also walk in the footsteps of his faith (4:11–12).
  • UncertainWhether 4:12 describes one group, circumcised Jews who also walk in Abraham's faith (lean), or two groups (alternative).
  • ImpliesAbraham is father of believing Gentiles and believing Jews alike, by faith, as the one God justifies both by faith (3:29–30).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Abbott-Smith public domain
historicalRom 4:9–12
Abraham's circumcision as sign and seal (4:9–12)
  • SaysRom 4:10–11 says righteousness was credited to Abraham before his circumcision and that he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith he had while uncircumcised; Gen 17:11 calls circumcision a sign of the covenant, given at ninety-nine (Gen 17:1, 24), after Gen 15:6 and Ishmael's birth (Gen 16:16).
  • ImpliesRom 4:10–12 implies that the sign and seal confirmed a righteousness already credited and did not cause it, so Abraham is father of uncircumcised and circumcised believers alike.
  • UncertainWhether Paul's 'seal' (σφραγῖδα, Rom 4:11) draws on a Jewish usage for circumcision already current in his day.
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Rom 4:10

languageRom 4:10; Rom 4:11
Rom 4:11: circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Gen 17:11)
  • SaysGen 17:11 MT וְהָיָה לְאוֹת בְּרִית בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם; אוֹת "sign, pledge, token" (BDB p. 16); LXX καὶ ἔσται ἐν σημείῳ διαθήκης ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμοῦ καὶ ὑμῶν.
  • SaysRom 4:11 σημεῖον matches the LXX; σφραγίς is Paul's word, absent from Gen 17 in the MT and the LXX.
  • SaysIn Genesis the crediting (15:6) precedes the circumcision (17:24); 4:10 rests on this order.
  • ImpliesAs a seal, circumcision confirmed a righteousness already credited by faith; it did not cause it (4:10–11).
  • UncertainThe use of 4:11 in baptism debates: paedobaptist readings (WCF 28; Col 2:11–12) and credobaptist readings (2LBC 29; seal after faith; Col 2:11–12) named equally; the team takes no lean.
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Rom 4:11

languageRom 4:11; Rom 4:12
σημεῖον ἔλαβεν περιτομῆς, σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως (4:11–12)
  • SaysAbraham received σημεῖον περιτομῆς, a σφραγίς of the righteousness of the faith he had while uncircumcised, so that he is father of all who believe without circumcision (4:11).
  • UncertainWhether περιτομῆς is epexegetic, 'the sign, namely circumcision' (lean; Abbott-Smith; Gen 17:11 LXX), or 'the sign belonging to circumcision' (alternative).
  • Saysσφραγίς is used metaphorically: the seal attests the righteousness of faith Abraham had before circumcision (4:10–11).
  • UncertainWhether 4:12 describes one group, circumcised Jews who also walk in Abraham's faith (lean), or two groups (alternative).
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Rom 4:13

exegeticalRom 4:13–17
The promise through faith, Abraham as heir of the world, and the God who gives life to the dead (Romans 4:13–17)
  • SaysThe promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world came not through the law but through the righteousness of faith (4:13).
  • UncertainWhether 'heir of the world' is the promise of land and nations widened to the world (lean: the land, Gen 12:7; 13:14–17; 15:18; the nations, Gen 12:3; 17:4–6; 22:17–18; Rom 8:17–23) or the many nations of Gen 17:5 only (alternative).
  • ImpliesThe inheritance belongs to all who are of the faith of Abraham, Jews and Gentiles, by promise received through faith, not by the law (4:13, 16).
  • SaysIf those of the law are heirs, faith is emptied and the promise nullified, because the law brings wrath; where there is no law there is no transgression (4:14–15).
  • ImpliesThe law brings wrath because sinners break it, and παράβασις is the overstepping of a stated command, so an inheritance resting on the law could never be received.
  • UncertainWhether the verbless clause of 4:16 supplies 'the promise' (lean; BSB) or 'the inheritance' or 'the heirs' (alternative).
  • ImpliesThe promise is sure to all Abraham's offspring because it depends on grace received by faith, not on keeping the law (4:16).
  • Says4:17a quotes Gen 17:5 in the LXX form; κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ is an attracted relative, 'before the God in whom he believed'.
  • UncertainWhether καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα is God's creative call bringing into being what does not exist, ὡς ὄντα giving the result, with creation out of nothing as background, not statement (lean, as the Greek note), or 'speaks of things that are not as though they were' (alternative).
  • Implies'Who gives life to the dead' prepares for 4:19 and 4:24.
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languageRom 4:13; Rom 4:14; Rom 4:15; Rom 4:16
τὸ κληρονόμον αὐτὸν εἶναι κόσμου … βεβαίαν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν (4:13–16)
  • SaysThe promise that Abraham would be κληρονόμος κόσμου came through the righteousness of faith, not through the law (4:13).
  • UncertainWhether κόσμου is the promise of land and nations widened to the world (lean; Gen 12:3; 17:4–6; 22:17–18; Rom 8:17–23) or the many nations of Gen 17:5 only (alternative).
  • SaysIf the heirs are those of the law, faith has been emptied and the promise nullified; where there is no law there is no παράβασις (4:14–15).
  • UncertainWhether the verbless 4:16a supplies 'the promise is' (lean; 4:13–14, 16b) or 'the inheritance/the heirs are' (alternative).
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Rom 4:17

historicalRom 4:17
'Calls into being what does not yet exist' (4:17): Jewish creation language
  • SaysRom 4:17 says Abraham believed the God who gives life to the dead and calls (καλοῦντος) the things that are not (τὰ μὴ ὄντα) ὡς ὄντα.
  • ImpliesScripture teaches that God made all things by his word, not from anything visible, and that nothing made exists apart from him (Gen 1:1; John 1:3; Heb 11:3; Rev 4:11).
  • UncertainWhether Rom 4:17 speaks of creation out of nothing; the lean is God's creative call that brings into being what does not exist, with creation out of nothing as its background (paired with giving life to the dead, as in 2 Macc 7); the alternative reads ὡς ὄντα as 'as though they were', God naming the promised nations before they exist (4:17–18).
✓ Approved BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 APOT public domain Philo (Yonge) public domain
languageRom 4:17; Rom 4:18
Rom 4:17–18: Gen 17:5 (the new name) and Gen 15:5 (the stars)
  • SaysGen 17:5 MT אַבְרָם וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ אַבְרָהָם כִּי אַב־הֲמוֹן גּוֹיִם נְתַתִּיךָ; הָמוֹן "multitude" (BDB p. 242).
  • UncertainWhether the explanation of אַבְרָהָם by אַב־הֲמוֹן is a sound-play (lean; הֲמוֹן has no r) or the name's actual derivation.
  • SaysLXX Gen 17:5 changes the name from Abram to Abraham and reads ὅτι πατέρα πολλῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικά σε; Rom 4:17 quotes it word for word; τέθεικα renders the perfect נְתַתִּיךָ.
  • SaysGen 15:5 MT וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כֹּה יִהְיֶה זַרְעֶךָ; LXX καὶ εἶπεν Οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου; Rom 4:18 has the LXX wording.
  • ImpliesPaul joins the promises of Gen 17:5 and Gen 15:5: the many nations are the countless offspring (4:18).
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languageRom 4:17
κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ … καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα (4:17)
  • Says4:17 quotes Gen 17:5 as in the LXX and calls God, before whom Abraham believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα; κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν θεοῦ is relative attraction.
  • SaysTwo participles, ζῳοποιοῦντος and καλοῦντος, describe God.
  • UncertainWhether καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα is God's creative call bringing into being what does not exist, with creation out of nothing as background (lean; 1 Cor 1:28; 2 Macc 7:28, non-canonical), or 'speaks of things that are not as though they were' (alternative).
  • Implies'Who gives life to the dead' prepares for 4:19 and 4:24.
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Rom 4:18

exegeticalRom 4:18–22
Against hope, in hope: Abraham's faith in the God who promised (Romans 4:18–22)
  • SaysAgainst hope Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, as Gen 15:5 says in the LXX form (4:18).
  • ImpliesPaul joins the two promises: the many nations of Gen 17:5 are the countless offspring of Gen 15:5.
  • UncertainWhether 4:19 reads κατενόησεν, 'he considered' (lean; SBLGNT, BSB), or οὐ κατενόησεν, 'he did not consider' (alternative; RP, TR); on either reading he did not weaken in faith.
  • SaysGenesis gives Abraham's age as a hundred and Sarah's as ninety, and Sarah as past childbearing (Gen 17:17; 18:11).
  • UncertainWhether οὐ διεκρίθη means 'did not waver' (lean; BSB) or 'did not dispute' with God (alternative).
  • ImpliesAbraham's faith rested on God's promise and power, not on his own capacity, and gave glory to God (4:20–21; Gen 18:14).
  • UncertainWhether Paul reads the laughter of Gen 17:17 and 18:12 from the outcome of the account (lean; Gen 21:1–7) or leaves those episodes aside (alternative).
  • SaysTherefore it was credited to him as righteousness (4:22).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0
historicalRom 4:18–21
Sarah's age and the barrenness motif (4:19)
  • SaysRom 4:19–21 says Abraham, not weakening in faith, acknowledged his body as good as dead at about a hundred and the deadness of Sarah's womb, fully persuaded God could do what he promised; Gen 11:30; 17:17; 18:11, 14 say Sarah was barren, ninety, past childbearing, and that nothing is too difficult for the Lord.
  • ImpliesThe deadness of body and womb in Rom 4:19 answers to the God who gives life to the dead (4:17), and Abraham's faith is the pattern for those who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead (4:24).
  • UncertainWhether Rom 4:19 originally read κατενόησεν (SBLGNT, followed here) or οὐ κατενόησεν; on either reading Abraham's faith rested on God's power and promise (4:20–21).
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languageRom 4:18; Rom 4:19; Rom 4:20; Rom 4:21
παρʼ ἐλπίδα ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι … οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ (4:18–21)
  • SaysAgainst hope Abraham believed in hope, according to the word 'So shall your offspring be' (4:18; Gen 15:5 LXX).
  • UncertainWhether 4:19 reads κατενόησεν, 'he considered' his body and Sarah's deadness (lean; ℵ A B C), or οὐ κατενόησεν, 'he did not consider' (alternative; D F G, Byzantine).
  • UncertainWhether οὐ διεκρίθη means 'did not waver/doubt' (lean; Abbott-Smith; contrast with ἐνεδυναμώθη) or 'did not dispute' (alternative).
  • SaysAbraham was fully convinced (πληροφορηθείς) that God could do what he had promised (4:21).
  • ImpliesAbraham's faith rested on God's promise and power, not on his own capacity (4:20–21; Gen 18:14).
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Rom 4:23

exegeticalRom 4:23–25
Written also for us: delivered over for our trespasses and raised for our justification (Romans 4:23–25)
  • Says'It was credited to him' was written not only for Abraham but also for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead (4:23–24).
  • ImpliesThe same crediting holds for all who believe in the God who raised Jesus; Abraham's faith in the God who gives life to the dead is their pattern (4:17, 24).
  • SaysJesus was delivered over because of our trespasses and raised because of, or for, our justification (4:25); God is the agent of both passives.
  • UncertainWhether the two διά phrases are retrospective then prospective (lean: διά + accusative 'for the sake of', Abbott-Smith; 4:24; 8:34; 1 Cor 15:17; the BSB fits) or both retrospective (alternative: the strict parallel; 5:9).
  • UncertainWhether παρεδόθη with sins echoes Isa 53:12 (lean: probable, not established) or reflects a traditional formula (alternative).
  • ImpliesChrist was delivered over bearing the penalty of our trespasses in our place, and his resurrection is bound to the verdict of justification (3:24–26; 5:9–10, 18; 8:3).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain Abbott-Smith public domain

Rom 4:25

languageRom 4:25
παρεδόθη διὰ τὰ παραπτώματα ἡμῶν καὶ ἠγέρθη διὰ τὴν δικαίωσιν ἡμῶν (4:25)
  • SaysJesus was handed over διὰ τὰ παραπτώματα ἡμῶν and raised διὰ τὴν δικαίωσιν ἡμῶν, with God as agent (4:24–25; 8:32).
  • UncertainWhether the first διά is retrospective and the second prospective, 'for the sake of our justification' (lean; Abbott-Smith's 'for the sake of'; justification tied to the risen Christ, 4:24; 8:34; 1 Cor 15:17), or both retrospective, 'because our justification had been secured' (alternative; the strict parallel of the clauses; justified by his blood, 5:9).
  • Saysδικαίωσις, the act of pronouncing righteous, occurs in the NT only at 4:25 and 5:18.
  • UncertainWhether 4:25a echoes Isa 53:12 (lean: probable) or uses a traditional formula (alternative).
✓ Approved SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Abbott-Smith public domain BSB public domain
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