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For if Abraham was declared righteous[a] by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited[b] to him as righteousness.”[c] Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:2 tn Or “was justified.”
  2. Romans 4:3 tn The term λογίζομαι (logizomai) occurs 11 times in this chapter (vv. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24). In secular usage it could (a) refer to deliberations of some sort, or (b) in commercial dealings (as virtually a technical term) to “reckoning” or “charging up a debt.” See H. W. Heidland, TDNT 4:284, 290-92.
  3. Romans 4:3 sn A quotation from Gen 15:6.
  4. Romans 4:4 tn Grk “not according to grace but according to obligation.”

If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(A) What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](B)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(C) but as an obligation.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22