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Abraham Justified by Faith
Paul explains Abraham’s example to show how righteousness is counted. In this passage, he contrasts works and faith, then asks who shares Abraham’s blessing and why circumcision matters in that argument.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
Romans 4:1–12 is a teaching section in a letter. Paul raises questions about Abraham, quotes Scripture about Abraham’s believing, then quotes David about forgiven sin. He uses these statements to argue that righteousness is counted by faith, and that this blessing is for both circumcised and uncircumcised people.
Romans 4:1–12Main takeaway
This passage teaches that God counted Abraham righteous through faith, and Paul uses that to show the blessing is not limited by circumcision.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Abraham is introduced as the examplePaul begins with Abraham and asks what he found. He says that if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have grounds for boasting, yet not before God.
Explanation
Paul begins with Abraham and asks what he found. He says that if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have grounds for boasting, yet not before God. The point is not Abraham’s effort, but how God counts a person righteous.
02Faith is counted as righteousnessPaul answers by quoting Scripture: Abraham believed God, and that belief was accounted as righteousness.
Explanation
Paul answers by quoting Scripture: Abraham believed God, and that belief was accounted as righteousness. He then explains the contrast between wages and grace. A worker receives what is owed, but the believer trusts God, who justifies the ungodly, and faith is accounted as righteousness.
03David speaks of the blessing of forgivenessPaul adds David’s words to describe this counted righteousness. The blessed person is one whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered, and whom the Lord will not charge with sin.
Explanation
Paul adds David’s words to describe this counted righteousness. The blessed person is one whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered, and whom the Lord will not charge with sin. Here the blessing is described in terms of forgiveness rather than human achievement.
04The blessing reaches beyond the circumcisedPaul asks whether this blessing belongs only to the circumcised. He repeats that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness, then asks when this happened.
Explanation
Paul asks whether this blessing belongs only to the circumcised. He repeats that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness, then asks when this happened. His answer is clear: it was not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision, so the timing matters to his argument.
05Circumcision is called a sign and sealPaul says Abraham received circumcision as a sign and a seal of the righteousness of the faith he already had while uncircumcised.
Explanation
Paul says Abraham received circumcision as a sign and a seal of the righteousness of the faith he already had while uncircumcised. So Abraham is presented as father of believing uncircumcised people and also of the circumcised who walk in the same faith.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to Paul, why can Abraham not boast before God?
Look at Paul’s contrast between being justified by works and what Scripture says about Abraham believing God.
02How does Paul explain the difference between wages and righteousness counted by faith?
Notice the difference between something owed to a worker and righteousness counted to one who believes God.
03Why does Paul spend time asking whether Abraham was circumcised or uncircumcised when righteousness was counted to him?
Follow his answer about timing and then see how he connects Abraham to all who believe.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Romans 4:1–12
1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.
5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
6Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”
9Is this blessing then pronounced only on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
10How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.
12He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.