Romans 4

Abraham Set Right by Trust

What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was set right by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the scripture say?
“Abraham trusted God,
and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Now to the one who works, wages are not counted according to grace but according to what is owed. But to the one who does not work but trusts in the one who sets right the ungodly, that trust is counted as righteousness.

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Notes

Translation notes for Romans 4.

v13

“heir of the world” — Paul uses “world” rather than repeating the language of a particular land. The expression broadens the wording of the Abrahamic promise without explaining how that relationship is to be understood.

v17

“calls the things that do not exist as though they exist” — The Greek expression can carry more than one nuance, including calling what does not exist into existence or speaking of what is not yet as though it were. TSW preserves the expression without resolving the ambiguity.

v18

“Against hope, in hope” — The wording preserves Paul’s deliberate repetition of “hope,” holding the apparent absence of hope together with Abraham’s continuing hope.

v19

“he considered his own body” — Some manuscripts read “he did not consider his own body.” Other witnesses also include “already” before “as good as dead.” TSW follows the critical-text reading reflected in the main text.

v25

“for our trespasses… for our setting right” — The same Greek construction is used in both clauses. The repeated “for” preserves the parallel relationship without further defining how Jesus’ being handed over and raised relate to trespasses and setting right.

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Vocabulary

Selected source-language vocabulary for Romans 4.

v03

πίστις (pistis)

“Trust; faith; faithfulness.” A central term throughout the chapter. TSW uses “trust” here to preserve the relational response to God’s promise while not excluding the term’s broader semantic range.

v03

λογίζομαι (logizomai)

“To count; reckon; consider.” Repeated throughout the chapter, especially in the language of trust and righteousness being “counted.”

v13

σπέρμα (sperma)

“Offspring; seed.” Repeated in the Abrahamic promise. TSW uses “offspring” to preserve the repeated term across the chapter.

v15

παράβασις (parabasis)

“Transgression; violation.” Refers to crossing or violating a defined boundary.

v17

ζωοποιέω (zōopoieō)

“To give life; make alive.” Used here of God giving life to the dead.

v25

δικαίωσις (dikaiōsis)

“Setting right; justification.” Refers to the act or result of being declared or established as right. TSW renders the term “setting right” here while retaining its traditional theological sense in the vocabulary.v21: and being fully convinced that what God had promised, God was also able to do.