New Testament Commentary - Romans 4

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 4 Abraham's faith was imputed to him for righteousness—Man is justified by faith, righteous works, and grace.
1 WHAT shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 ^aFor if Abraham were justified by works, he hath ^bwhereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham ^abelieved God, and it was counted unto him for ^brighteousness^a.	3^a Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness Three times in the New Testament is this recorded as being in the scriptures, twice by Paul (Romans 4:3 & 22 and Glatians 3:6) and once by James (James 2:3). The word 'imputed' is used by both Paul and James as the translation of Romans 4:22 indicates that Pauls meaning and intend was that is was 'imputed' and not just 'accounted'. This particular phrasing is found in today's Old Testament in Genesis 15:6 which states: "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Yet the JST adds an interesting perspective unto this statement, in that as Genesis 15:5 states that Abraham saw his seed, that it was to be numbered as th stars, the JST adds the fact that Abraham was also show that 'that particular seed, the Son of Man', would also come forth, for he saw his days and was glad JST Gensis 15:11-12). Certainly Abraham understood that the covenant included the coming of the Son of Man as being of his seed, Abraham's seed. That this particular has been removed from the Old Testament is one more witness as to the corruption and denial of Christ, the Son of Man, by the Jews of Jesus' day.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
4 Now to him that worketh is the ^areward not ^breckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, ^aBlessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the ^asign of ^bcircumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the ^cfather of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also ^awalk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the ^aheir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his ^bseed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no ^alaw is, there is no ^btransgression.
16 ^aTherefore it is of faith, that it might be by ^bgrace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the ^cfaith of Abraham; who is the ^dfather of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who ^aquickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in ^ahope, that he might become the father of many ^bnations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy ^cseed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years ^aold, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He ^astaggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had ^apromised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for ^aus also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our ^aoffences, and was raised again for our ^bjustification.