Romans 4 6

Romans 4:6 kjv

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Romans 4:6 nkjv

just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Romans 4:6 niv

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Romans 4:6 esv

just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

Romans 4:6 nlt

David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

Romans 4 verses

Romans 4 6 Meaning

Romans 4:6 declares a profound theological truth about how humanity can stand righteous before God. It emphasizes that divine blessedness and righteousness are credited, or "imputed," by God to an individual not based on any human performance, merit, or "works," but rather as a sovereign act of grace. Paul supports this truth by citing King David, a pivotal figure under the Old Covenant, who also experienced this very divine blessing of righteousness given apart from perfect obedience.

Romans 4 6 Context

Romans chapter 4 is pivotal in Paul's systematic theological argument regarding justification by faith alone. Having established in chapter 3 that both Jews and Gentiles are sinners and cannot be justified by works of the law, Paul now provides concrete biblical examples to bolster his claim. He first presents Abraham (Romans 4:1-5) as the patriarch whose righteousness was "counted" or "imputed" through his faith, before circumcision and the Mosaic Law. Then, in verse 6, Paul introduces King David as another key Old Testament witness, demonstrating that the principle of imputed righteousness apart from works applied even under the Law. This serves to counter the Jewish belief that righteousness was attained through adherence to the Law and good deeds, showing that God's method of dealing with humanity, across dispensations, has consistently been through grace and faith, rather than human merit.

Romans 4 6 Word analysis

• even as: Links this statement directly to the preceding one about Abraham. It establishes a pattern or shared principle from the Old Testament. It's not a new concept; it's consistent.
• David: Refers to King David of Israel, author of Psalm 32. His inclusion is significant because he lived under the Mosaic Law and was also known for profound sin, yet found God's blessedness.
• also describes: The Greek word is legei (λέγει), meaning "says" or "speaks." Paul isn't quoting a biography but rather David's own words from Scripture (Psalm 32:1-2), thus lending scriptural authority to his argument.
• the blessedness: The Greek is makarismos (μακαρισμός). This term refers to the state of happiness, divine favor, or ultimate well-being that comes from God. It denotes a favor that brings deep joy and fulfillment, independent of outward circumstances. It's a declaration of divine approval.
• of the man: This is universal; it refers to any individual, Jew or Gentile, who experiences this divine reality.
• unto whom: Signifies the recipient or beneficiary of this divine action.
• God: Emphasizes the divine initiative. Righteousness is not something one earns from God but something God, in His sovereign grace, confers upon an individual. He is the active agent.
• imputes: The Greek word is logizomai (λογίζομαι). This is a crucial accounting or legal term meaning to "reckon," "credit," "count," or "attribute." It implies placing something to one's account that was not originally there, nor earned by personal effort. It’s a judicial declaration, not a transformative act within the person, but a declaration about their standing before God.
• righteousness: The Greek word is dikaiosyne (δικαιοσύνη). In this context, it refers to a right standing before God, an acceptable status in His sight. It is a legal, forensic declaration, meaning God declares someone righteous, viewing them as if they had perfectly fulfilled all requirements of His holy law. This is distinct from moral rectitude earned through perfect living.
• without works: The Greek phrase is choris ergon (χωρὶς ἔργων). This is a strong, definitive exclusion. It explicitly states that human effort, religious rituals, moral performance, or adherence to the Law (including the Mosaic Law) play no role whatsoever in meriting or obtaining this righteousness from God. It is entirely a gift.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "even as David also describes the blessedness of the man": Paul is anchoring his New Covenant doctrine firmly in the Old Testament Scriptures. David's experience, recorded in Psalm 32, provides a scriptural witness that God's blessedness comes not through human perfection but through God's gracious imputation. This counters any notion that Paul's teaching is novel.
• "unto whom God imputes righteousness without works": This phrase encapsulates the core theological statement of justification by grace through faith. It identifies the divine agent ("God"), the action ("imputes"), the content ("righteousness"), and the method ("without works"). This contrasts sharply with any system of human merit or performance for gaining acceptance with God.

Romans 4 6 Bonus section

• The term logizomai (imputes) is key. It's not about making a person inherently righteous at the moment of justification but declaring them righteous positionally before God's law. This "forensic" justification (like a legal verdict) means that while we may still struggle with sin, our standing before God is perfectly righteous in Christ.
• Paul deliberately uses Abraham, who lived before the Law was given, and David, who lived under the Law. This demonstrates that God's standard for salvation has always been the same across different eras: grace through faith, resulting in imputed righteousness, rather than human merit or works of the Law.
• The connection between "blessedness" (makarismos) and "imputed righteousness" is significant. True human blessedness, joy, and spiritual peace stem from this God-given righteous standing, not from successful striving or religious observance. It brings profound relief and security.

Romans 4 6 Commentary

Romans 4:6 serves as a foundational declaration of the doctrine of imputed righteousness, a cornerstone of Christian salvation. Paul masterfully draws upon David's testimony in Psalm 32 to show that the blessedness God bestows comes through God reckoning righteousness, not on the basis of human performance, but as a pure gift. This "reckoning" (imputing) means that God places Christ's perfect righteousness to the believer's account, even though the believer has not earned it.

David's context is crucial: despite being a "man after God's own heart," he committed grievous sins (adultery, murder), yet he found profound forgiveness and blessedness not by his own capacity to obey or make restitution, but by God’s mercy. The psalm cited by Paul speaks of the joy of having one’s sins not counted against them (Psalm 32:2), which implicitly contains the idea of being counted righteous. This powerfully reinforces the concept of righteousness as a divine act, totally apart from human works. This principle underpins the New Testament message of grace, providing deep assurance that acceptance before God is entirely by His free gift through Christ, received by faith alone.