Romans 4 3

Romans 4:3 kjv

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4:3 nkjv

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Romans 4:3 niv

What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Romans 4:3 esv

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."

Romans 4:3 nlt

For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."

Romans 4 verses

Romans 4 3 Meaning

Romans 4:3 states a foundational truth concerning how a person is made right with God. It declares that Abraham, the patriarch esteemed by all, achieved a righteous standing before God not by any works or merits of his own, but purely through his act of believing God. This act of faith was then divinely accounted or credited to him as righteousness, demonstrating that true righteousness before God is a gracious imputation, a declaration made by God, rather than a human accomplishment.

Romans 4 3 Context

Romans chapter 4 is pivotal in Paul's systematic theological argument for justification by faith alone. Having established in chapters 1-3 that all humanity, both Jew and Gentile, is under sin and therefore unable to earn righteousness through the Law, Paul now turns to Abraham. Abraham, revered as the father of the Jewish nation, serves as the ultimate Old Testament paradigm to demonstrate that God's method of saving people has always been through faith, not by works of the Law, including circumcision. Romans 4:3 directly quotes Gen 15:6, immediately showing that Abraham's relationship with God, characterized by God declaring him righteous, predates the giving of the Law and his circumcision. This historical fact fundamentally dismantles any argument that righteousness comes through keeping the Mosaic Law or ethnic privilege, making it clear that salvation has always been a gift received by trusting in God's promises. Paul uses Abraham as an unassailable authority to illustrate the universality of salvation by grace through faith.

Romans 4 3 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This conjunction links Rom 4:3 back to the preceding argument, particularly Rom 4:2, which questioned whether Abraham had something to boast about by works. "For" introduces the Scriptural proof that nullifies any such boast. It shows a logical flow in Paul's argument.
• what does (τί - ti): This interrogative pronoun introduces a direct question, but one that Paul himself answers by quoting Scripture, underscoring the authority and clarity of the biblical text on this matter.
• the Scripture (ἡ γραφὴ - hē graphē): Refers to the Old Testament, specifically the Pentateuch, and in this context, the book of Genesis. Paul consistently elevates "the Scripture" as the authoritative, inspired Word of God, making it the ultimate court of appeal for theological truth. It's not just a book, but a divine oracle.
• say? (λέγει - legei): Present active indicative. It means "it says" or "it continues to say." This active voice implies that Scripture is a living, speaking voice of God, continually authoritative for every generation.
• Abraham (Ἀβραάμ - Abraam): A towering figure in Israel's history and faith, central to Jewish identity. Paul deliberately uses him to dismantle a works-based understanding of righteousness from within Jewish tradition itself, appealing to a common, highly esteemed reference point.
• believed (ἐπίστευσεν - episteusen): Aorist tense, singular, indicating a decisive, completed act of faith. This isn't just intellectual acknowledgment but a deep, personal reliance and trust in God's character and promise, despite seemingly impossible circumstances (e.g., God's promise of offspring through an aged Sarah). The verb highlights Abraham's inward, personal act of faith as the primary factor.
• God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō): The object of Abraham's faith. It's crucial that Abraham believed God directly, not in abstract concepts or self-help doctrines. This emphasizes the divine initiative and faithfulness. His belief was in a personal, active deity who keeps His promises.
• and it was counted (καὶ ἐλογίσθη - kai elogisthē): From the verb λογίζομαι (logizomai), meaning "to count, reckon, credit, impute." This is a crucial theological term. It's an accounting or forensic term, meaning God credited or attributed righteousness to Abraham's account. It implies that Abraham did not inherently possess that righteousness as his own merit, but God declared him righteous on the basis of his faith. It's an objective declaration, not a subjective achievement. The "it" refers to Abraham's act of believing.
• to him (αὐτῷ - autō): Directly identifies Abraham as the recipient of this divine declaration. It underscores the personal nature of God's imputation.
• as righteousness (εἰς δικαιοσύνην - eis dikaiosynēn): Refers to a right standing before God. Δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) implies a state of being acquitted, justified, or brought into right relationship with God. The preposition εἰς (eis) can denote purpose or result, meaning "for" or "into" righteousness. It signifies that faith was the basis upon which God accounted Abraham as righteous. This righteousness is not from Abraham's doing, but is God's imputation to him.

Romans 4 3 Bonus section

• Paul's strategic use of Genesis 15:6 over later events in Abraham's life, like the offering of Isaac (Gen 22), is deliberate. While Abraham's obedience in Gen 22 demonstrates his faith, Gen 15:6 explicitly links his belief to righteousness, thereby emphasizing that his justification occurred by faith prior to any significant work or act of obedience that might be misinterpreted as merit. This choice pre-empts any "works-based" interpretation of Abraham's justification.
• The forensic nature of "counted/reckoned" (λογίζομαι - logizomai) is vital. It describes a legal declaration by God, akin to a judge's verdict, rather than an inherent quality that Abraham perfected in himself. This concept is foundational to understanding "imputation" in Pauline theology, where Christ's righteousness is credited to believers, and their sin is imputed to Christ.
• The parallel between Abraham's "faith" (εἰς δικαιοσύνην - eis dikaiosynēn) and Christian justification (through faith in Christ Jesus) is a core theme in Romans. Just as Abraham believed God's promises regarding his seed and a new nation, believers now believe God's promise in Christ regarding salvation and spiritual newness. The object of faith is revealed more fully in the New Covenant (Jesus Christ), but the mechanism of salvation—God crediting righteousness through faith—remains the same.
• This verse counters a common misinterpretation that salvation for Jews in the Old Testament was by law-keeping while for Christians it's by grace. Paul emphatically demonstrates that from Abraham onward, justification has always been by God's grace through faith, a truth revealed progressively in Scripture.

Romans 4 3 Commentary

Romans 4:3 is the lynchpin in Paul's exposition of justification by faith, anchoring his theological argument in the historical testimony of Abraham, the foundational figure of the Jewish faith. By directly quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul asserts that the principle of salvation by grace through faith is not a new New Testament doctrine, but God's consistent method of establishing relationship with humanity from the very beginning. Abraham's belief, not his works or religious rites like circumcision (which came much later in Genesis 17), was the sole basis upon which God imputed righteousness to him. This "imputed righteousness" means God forensically declared Abraham righteous, crediting to his spiritual account a status he did not earn, much like a payment is credited to a ledger. This powerful example underscores that salvation is an act of God's grace, received by a trusting heart, completely apart from human effort, merit, or performance, thus silencing any boast and paving the way for the inclusive nature of the Gospel for both Jew and Gentile through faith in Christ.