Romans 4 16

Romans 4:16 kjv

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; 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 faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Romans 4:16 nkjv

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Romans 4:16 niv

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring?not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Romans 4:16 esv

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring ? not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

Romans 4:16 nlt

So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

Romans 4 verses

Romans 4 16 Meaning

Romans 4:16 conveys that God's promise of blessing and salvation is established through faith so that it can be a matter of grace. This ensures the unwavering certainty of the promise for all of Abraham's spiritual descendants, encompassing not only those who adhere to the Mosaic Law by birth but also, and equally, all who share the faith exemplified by Abraham, who is thereby revealed as the spiritual father of all believers, both Jewish and Gentile.

Romans 4 16 Context

Romans 4 is a pivotal chapter in Paul's letter, building upon his argument that all humanity, Jew and Gentile alike, stands condemned before a holy God. He then presents God's solution: righteousness is imputed through faith in Jesus Christ, not through adherence to the Mosaic Law or human merit. To demonstrate this foundational truth, Paul turns to Abraham, the venerated patriarch of Israel, showing that Abraham himself was declared righteous (justified) by God based on his faith, long before the Law was given (Moses) or circumcision became a sign of the covenant.

This verse (4:16) serves as a conclusion to Paul's extensive illustration using Abraham. It solidifies the idea that the "seed" (inheritors of the promise) includes Gentiles who believe, just as it includes Jews who believe, thus breaking down any perceived exclusiveness based on ethnic origin or ritual observance. The historical context for the original audience, composed of both Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome, involved significant tension regarding the basis of salvation and identity within the new Christian community, with some Jewish believers potentially struggling to fully embrace Gentiles as equal heirs without conversion to Judaism or adherence to the Mosaic Law. Paul directly addresses this by grounding the inclusivity in God's eternal design, manifested in Abraham.

Romans 4 16 Word analysis

• "Therefore" (δὶὰ τοῦτο – dia touto): Connects back to the preceding argument in Romans 4, particularly verses 13-15. It signals a conclusion or a logical consequence derived from the discussion of Abraham's justification by faith apart from law.
• "it is of faith" (ἐκ πίστεως – ek pisteōs): The Greek preposition ek signifies origin, source, or basis—"out of faith." It establishes faith as the foundational principle for receiving the promise, distinguishing it from works.
  • pistis: More than intellectual agreement, it denotes a deep trust, reliance, and conviction in God and His Word.
• "that it might be by grace" (ἵνα ᾖ κατὰ χάριν – hina ē kata charin): The phrase expresses purpose or design. God structured salvation "according to grace," ensuring it's an unmerited favor and not earned. This eliminates human boasting.
  • charis: Divine favor, kindness, or good will that is freely given and undeserved. It's the antithesis of merit or works.
• "to the end the promise" (εἰς τὸ εἶναι τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν – eis to einai tēn epangelian): Indicates the ultimate goal or outcome. The specific nature of "faith by grace" is designed to achieve the certainty of the promise.
  • epangelia: A divine pledge, a commitment or declaration made by God. It implies reliability because God, who cannot lie, has given His word.
• "might be sure" (βεβαία – bebaia): Firm, steadfast, guaranteed, secure. This attribute underscores the immutability of God's promise. If the promise depended on human works, its certainty would fluctuate with human imperfection; by grace through faith, it's anchored in God's unchanging character.
• "to all the seed" (παντὶ τῷ σπέρματι – panti tō spermati): Emphasizes inclusivity—"to all the offspring/descendants."
  • sperma: Refers to "seed" or "offspring." While often implying physical lineage in Old Testament contexts, here, in Paul's theological framework (cf. Gal 3:16, 29), it encompasses spiritual descendants, defined by faith in Christ.
• "not to that only which is of the law" (οὐ τῷ ἐκ τοῦ νόμου μόνον – ou tō ek tou nomou monon): Excludes an exclusive claim to the promise by those who rely on the Mosaic Law or belong to the covenant solely by virtue of physical lineage. It challenges the prevailing Jewish assumption of privilege through adherence to the Law.
  • nomos: The Mosaic Law.
• "but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham" (ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ ἐκ πίστεως Ἀβραάμ – alla kai tō ek pisteōs Abraam): Includes Gentiles and believing Jews who possess Abraham's kind of faith, not merely his genetic inheritance or adherence to the Law.
  • "faith of Abraham": Highlights not just Abraham's object of faith, but his response of trusting God's word (as in Gen 15:6). This pattern of belief is what links diverse peoples to him.
• "who is the father of us all" (ὅς ἐστιν πατὴρ πάντων ἡμῶν – hos estin patēr pantōn hēmōn): Declares Abraham's universal spiritual fatherhood. He is the common progenitor for all who believe, regardless of ethnic background or former covenant status, by virtue of sharing his pattern of faith.

Words-group Analysis

• "it is of faith, that it might be by grace": This powerful pairing highlights the indispensable relationship between faith and grace. Faith is the appointed means by which humans receive what God graciously provides. It removes any sense of earning salvation, placing all credit on God's unmerited favor. If it were based on works, it would contradict grace; if it were based purely on grace without a human response, it would negate the call to belief.
• "to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed": This phrase underlines divine certainty. The method chosen by God (faith receiving grace) ensures the stability and dependability of His promise. If human merit were involved, the promise would always be vulnerable to human failure and imperfection. By being rooted in God's nature and gracious giving, its fulfillment is guaranteed. Furthermore, this method extends the promise broadly to all.
• "not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham": This crucial contrast articulates Paul's polemic against Jewish particularism and legalism. It directly refutes the idea that the promise belongs exclusively to those under the Law (primarily Jews) or to those who are Abraham's physical descendants and observers of the Law. Instead, the true heirs are those who share Abraham's faith, establishing a spiritual lineage that transcends ethnicity and covenant signs, making the gospel truly universal.

Romans 4 16 Bonus section

• This verse emphasizes the character of God: faithful to His promises and abundant in grace. The method chosen (grace through faith) perfectly aligns with His nature.
• It highlights a critical theological distinction: Grace is the basis and source of salvation (God's unmerited favor), while faith is the means by which it is received (human trust and reliance). One without the other fails to capture the full truth of biblical salvation.
• Romans 4:16 underscores the unity of believers in Christ, regardless of their ethnic or historical background. The shared spiritual parentage of Abraham binds diverse people into one family of God through common faith.

Romans 4 16 Commentary

Romans 4:16 is a foundational statement affirming that God's plan of salvation is universally accessible, built upon grace received through faith. Paul strategically presents this truth by leveraging the example of Abraham, revered by both Jews and early Christians. The core message is that the promise made to Abraham—which includes spiritual blessings and righteousness—is not restricted by the Mosaic Law or ethnic lineage but is freely offered by God's grace. This grace is apprehended by faith, meaning a humble reliance on God's divine provision rather than human effort. This mechanism ensures the promise's immutability; its certainty is guaranteed by God's faithfulness and generosity, not by fluctuating human performance. Therefore, Abraham is portrayed as the spiritual progenitor of all believers, Gentile and Jew, who follow his example of trusting God, thereby unifying them under a single, divinely ordained path to righteousness.