The Readable Bible: Romans

The Readable Bible

Romans

From Iron Stream Media

The Readable Bible will be available as a complete Bible, in portions, in individual books as below, and as a twenty-seven volume set.

The Holy Bible 978-1-56309-531-3

The Readable Bible: Pentateuch

The Readable Bible: Genesis 978-1-56309-578-8

The Readable Bible: Exodus 978-1-56309-579-5

The Readable Bible: Leviticus 978-1-56309-580-1

The Readable Bible: Numbers 978-1-56309-581-8

The Readable Bible: Deuteronomy 978-1-56309-582-5

The Readable Bible: Historical Books

The Readable Bible: Joshua, Judges, Ruth 978-1-56309-583-2

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Samuel 978-1-56309-584-9

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Kings 978-1-56309-585-6

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Chronicles 978-1-56309-586-3

The Readable Bible: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther 978-1-56309-587-0

The Readable Bible: Wisdom Books

The Readable Bible: Job 978-1-56309-588-7

The Readable Bible: Psalms 978-1-56309-564-1

The Readable Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs 978-1-56309-565-8

The Readable Bible: Prophets

The Readable Bible: Isaiah 978-1-56309-589-4

The Readable Bible: Jeremiah, Lamentations 978-1-56309-590-0

The Readable Bible: Ezekiel, Daniel 978-1-56309-592-4

The Readable Bible: Minor Prophets 978-1-56309-593-1

The Readable Bible: New Testament

The Readable Bible: Matthew 978-1-56309-566-5

The Readable Bible: Mark 978-1-56309-567-2

The Readable Bible: Luke 978-1-56309-568-9

The Readable Bible: John 978-1-56309-570-2

The Readable Bible: Acts 978-1-56309-571-9

The Readable Bible: Romans 978-1-56309-572-6

The Readable Bible: 1 and 2 Corinthians 978-1-56309-573-3

The Readable Bible: Galatians–Philemon 978-1-56309-575-7

The Readable Bible: Hebrews–Jude 978-1-56309-576-4

The Readable Bible: Revelation 978-1-56309-577-1

Visit www.ironstreammedia.com for more information.

The Readable Bible

Romans

The Letter to the Romans

Translated and Edited by Rodney S. Laughlin Brendan I. Kennedy, PhD

Birmingham, Alabama

The Readable Bible: Romans

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin

The Readable Bible text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred verses without express written permission of the publisher provided that (a) the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, (b) no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted, (c) all quotations conform accurately to The Readable Bible text, and (d) one of the following credit lines appears on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked TRB are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

When quotations from The Readable Bible text are used in not-for-sale media (e.g., church bulletins, orders of service, newsletters, digital presentations), a copyright notice is not required, but the initials “TRB” must appear at the end of each quotation. Websites and blogs may quote up to five hundred verses without express written permission provided they include the initials “TRB” at the end of each quotation and provided that the verses quoted account for not more than 25 percent of any web page upon which they appear and that no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted.

Quotations not covered by the above guidelines must be approved in writing by Iron Stream Media. Send requests to info@ironstreammedia.com or to the address above.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com)

Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

Part 1. Paul Introduces

Part

Unsaved

The Sinfulness of People and the Judgment

Romans

No One Is Exempt from God’s

Sin and Man’s

Violate the Law

Versus Outward

God’s Judgment Is

One Is

Part 3. God’s Actions to Make Us Righteous

Righteousness Comes Through Faith, Not Obedience to the Law

Justify

Romans

Romans 4

Abraham Was Justified by Faith..........................................................

Jews and Gentiles Alike Are Justified by Faith

You Cannot Be Justified by Obedience to the Law

Is Our Fatherly Example of Faith

Faith Brings Peace, Rejoicing, and Hope

Word: Hope

Jesus Brings Us into God’s Favor, Makes Us Safe and Sound

Came Through Adam; Life Comes Through Christ

Sin and Death

Romans 5

Summary: Sin Versus Grace....................................................

A New Life

Obedient Heart

Part 4. The Benefits of Salvation

A Fruit-Bearing Life

The Law Is Good; It Reveals

Sin..........................................

Mind That Agrees with God (Though Sin Dwells in the Body)

Word: Flesh

Freedom from the Law of Sin and Death

Future That Outweighs Today’s Suffering

Hope

Conquering Life

Part 5. The Role of Israel

8

9

Not All Israelites Are God’s Children 22 God’s Choice Is Just

24 The Prophets Knew Whom God Would Choose 25 Righteousness Comes by Faith (Belief)

Romans 10

Israel Tries to Make Its Own Righteousness

Righteousness Is Based On Faith (Belief ) in Jesus

One Must Hear, Understand, and Believe the Message

A Remnant of Israel Believes Now

Gentiles Are Grafted In

Israel Will Be Saved

Praise to God

Romans 11

Part 7. Closing Thoughts

Preface

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them.

It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format. Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a specification document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!).

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The first verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The first paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s.

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years.

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people.

Spring 2022

Before You Read

Before reading the text, please browse the glossary. You will find interesting information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important information regarding the words “Jesus” and “Christ.”

Words in italics are additions to the biblical text. Text enclosed in brackets is spurious—not in the oldest, most reliable manuscripts. Read “Note on Spurious Text” in the back of the book for more information.

Read lists in the text from top to bottom in the first column then the next column. In the context of commands, rules, and regulations, “shall,” “must,” and “are/is” are equal terms, all the same strength.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Remember, Jesus was and is Jewish. The disciples and the women around him were Jewish. So “Jews” in the text oftentimes refers not to all Jews but only to Jesus’ opponents.

How to Read a New Testament Letter

Imagine you are living in the first century AD, and you have become a believer. You put your faith in Jesus. You believe he died for your sins, you accepted him as your Lord, and you attend worship services in a home or small building. Your congregation has little written material—certainly not enough for everyone to be reading every day. You do not have time for that anyway, as you are exhausted by your work for six days a week (and you have no light to read at night).

One evening you go to a meeting of believers to share pieces of Scripture you or others have copied—some Old Testament writings, maybe a letter from an apostle, or a copy of one of the Gospels. Your pastor announces that he received a letter to the church from John the apostle, and he begins to read. You sit in awe, with a sense of expectation.

Now, read this letter with that attitude, that of a listener, as though someone is speaking to you. Look for what God has to say to you. The letter is personal. It is to you. It is theological—about God’s heart, his character, and his truth. God wants to speak to you through his Word. Open your heart and mind, and let God speak to you.

Introduction to Romans

The Writer

The apostle Paul was a highly educated Jewish Roman citizen who met the resurrected Jesus and became a believer when he was on the way to Damascus to continue his persecution of Christians.a After taking some time to get grounded in the faith, he dedicated his life to missionary work, planting churches throughout Asia Minor and in lands just to the west. Twelve of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are letters he wrote to encourage, admonish, and teach the churches he founded and the men he mentored. Paul wrote a thirteenth letter that is included in the New Testament, this letter to the church in Rome (a church that he did not establish).

The Situation

In about AD 57, the apostle Paul was in Corinth. He wanted to continue west to Rome to build up its fledgling church by bringing more Jews to faith in Jesus and by explaining the Scriptures to the believers. But first he had to head back to Jerusalem with an offering the new churches had entrusted to him to help relieve the sufferings of their fellow believers in Jerusalem. Because he was unlikely to get to Rome for at least a year (as Jerusalem was eight hundred miles east of Corinth, and Rome was seven hundred miles to the northwest), he wrote the Roman church this letter to introduce himself and to share what he had learned about God, man, sin, and righteousness.

The Letter

After introducing himself, Paul launches into the reason for the human race’s decline into deep sin. Then he explains how God moved to save believers from their sin, made them righteous, freed them from slavery to sin, and enabled them to live lives set apart to do God’s will. Paul ends his letter with some guidelines for living the saved life. Because God first chose Israel, the Jews, but then included Gentiles as his agents to bring righteousness to the world through Jesus, he explains the position of Israel in God’s plan today. To summarize, Paul tells us how people found themselves in the predicament of sin, how God provided a way out through faith in Jesus Christ, and how that salvation should affect our attitude toward God and others.

Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome

Part 1. Paul Introduces Himself

Romans 1

Address and Greeting

1 From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the good news of God—

Description and Purpose of the Good News

2 that he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 regarding his Son, born a descendant of King David (with reference to human descent a),

4 declaredb to be the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead through the Holy Spirit,c Jesus Christ, our Lord,

5 through whom we received grace and apostleship to bring about faithful obedience among all the Gentiles for his name’s sake,

6 among whom you too are included, called to Jesus Christ.

7 To all those who are in Rome, loved by God, called to be saints. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Desire to Minister in Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ, for all of you, because your faith is being made known in the whole world.

9 God (whom I serve d in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son) is my witness as to how I unceasingly mention you 10 in my prayers; I always ask if perhaps now I might by God’s will finally succeed in coming to you;

11 I long to see you, so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you;

12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

a Literally, “to the flesh.”

b Or “appointed.”

c Literally, “through the Spirit of holiness.”

d Or “worship.”

13

I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned to come to you many times (and was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you too, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles.

14 For I am obligated both to the cultured and uncultured,a both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the instrument of God’s power that brings salvationb for everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.c

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed, from faith to faith, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”d

Key Word: Salvation

To be released from slavery to sin and delivered to service to God, and to be saved from the eternal consequences of sin (eternal separation from God) by becoming a believer. (See “Salvation” in the glossary.)

Part 2. The Sinfulness of People and the Judgment of God

The Unsaved World’s Sinful Decline

18 For the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of people who suppress the truth by acts of wickedness, 19 because what is known about God is evident to them, for God has made it evident to them.

20 For his invisible qualities (e g , his eternal power and divine nature) have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood from what has been made;e so they are without excuse, 21 because they didn’t glorify God as God (though they knew him) or give him thanks, but instead they became futile f in their reasoning, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 They became fools (although they claimed to be wise), 23 and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image

a Literally, “to the Greeks and barbarians.”

b Literally, “into salvation.”

c Literally, “the Greek.”

d See Habakkuk 2:4.

e See Psalm 19:1; Job 12:7–9.

f “Futile”: unable to produce any useful result.

resembling mortal humans, birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures.a

25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, worshiping and serving the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

24 Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies with one another; 26 for this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women

exchanged the natural sexual function for that which is contrary to nature. 27 In the same way, the men

abandoned the natural sexual function of women, were inflamed in their lust for one another, committed shameful acts, males with males, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Because they didn’t think it worthwhile to recognize God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do things that aren’t proper.

29 They are filled with all kinds of unrighteousness, evil, strife, wickedness, envy, deceit, and greed, murder, malice. They are

gossips, – arrogant, 31 without understanding, 30 slanderers, boastful, untrustworthy, – God-haters, contrivers of evil acts, heartless, and – insolent, disobedient to parents, irreconcilable.

32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them, but they even give approval to those who practice them!

Romans

No One Is Exempt from God’s Judgment

1 Therefore, all of you who pass judgment on someone else have no excuse, for you condemn yourself on the same basisb that you judge the other person, because you (who pass judgment!) do the same things.

a Or “and reptiles” or “and snakes.”

b Literally, “in that which.”

2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

3 Do you think you will escape God’s judgment, O mortal, when you pass judgment on those who do such things— when you do the same things yourself ? 4 Or do you disregard the riches of his kindness, forbearance,a and patience, unaware that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

5 Because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself, which you will receive on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

6 God “will repay every person according to what they have done”: b 7 eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality by steadfastly doing good; but 8 wrath and anger to those who are selfishly ambitious, who disobey God’s truth, and who obey evil; 9 tribulation and distress to every person who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Gentile,c 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does good, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

11 For there is no favoritism with God.d 12 For all who have sinned without knowledge of the law will also perish without knowledge of the law, and all who have sinned with knowledge of the law will be judged by the law.

13 For it’s not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it’s those who obey the law e who will be justified.

a “Forbearance”: a combination of patience and restraint.

b See Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12; Matthew 16:27.

c Literally, “and also the Greek.” And verse 10.

d See Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7.

e Literally, “who do the law.” Paul shows in Romans 3:19–28 that no one obeys the law and is justified that way (as no one can keep it).

Note: Sin and Man’s Conscience

14 For when Gentiles, who don’t have the law, instinctively do the things required by the law,a they, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are b written on their hearts, as their conscience bears witness, and their thoughts vacillate back and forth, accusing them and even defending them.

16 This will happen on the day when, according to my gospel, God judges everyone’s secrets through Christ Jesus.

Jews Violate the Law

17 But if you call yourself a Jew, rely on the law, boast in God, 18 know the will of God (by being instructed by the law), approve the essential things, and 19 are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in the dark, 20 one who corrects the foolish, a teacher of the immaturec (having in the law the tangible expressiond of knowledge and truth),

21 you then who teach others—don’t you teach yourself ? e Preach against stealing—do you steal?

22 Say, “Do not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? Detest idols—do you commit sacrilege? f 23 Boast in the law—do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”g

a Literally, “by nature do the things of the law.”

b Literally, “the work of the law is.”

c Literally, “of infants” or “of children.”

d Literally, “having the embodiment.”

e Literally, “do you not teach yourself ?”

f Literally, “do you rob temples?” In first-century Greek literature, the term also refers to violations and/or misuse of sacred objects.

g See Isaiah 52:5 (in the Septuagint); Ezekiel 36:20.

Inward Versus Outward Circumcisiona

25

If you observe the law, your circumcision indeed has value, but if you are one who breaks the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised personb keeps the law’s requirements, won’t their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

27 The one who is physically uncircumcised yet obeys the law will condemn you who are circumcised, who have the written law yet break it.

28 For a person is not a Jew who is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward, in the body.

29 Instead,

one is a true Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Holy Spirit, not by the letter of the law. c

That person receives praise not from people but from God.

3 Romans God’s Judgment Is Just

1 Question:

What then is the advantage of the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?

2 Answer:

Much in every way! First of all, they were entrusted with the spoken wordsd of God.

3 Question:

Then what? If some don’t believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?

4 Answer:

Absolutely not—let God be true and every human a liar (as it is written about him “. . . that you will be proved right in your words and win your case in court.”e).

5 Question: But, you might ask,

if our unrighteousness shows by contrast God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath upon us ? (I am speaking in human terms.)

6 Answer:

Of course not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?

a “Circumcision” in the discussion through Romans 3:2 means “membership in the Jewish people and adherence to the Jewish law” (rather than meaning “men who have been circumcised”). Here the term includes women.

b Literally, “if the uncircumcision.”

c See Deuteronomy 30:6.

d Or “the oracles.”Literally, “when you are judged.”

e See Psalm 51:4 in the Septuagint.

7 Question: But, you might ask,

if by means of my lie God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still judged as a sinner?

8 Answer:

Then why not say (as some slanderously allege we say), “Let us do evil that good may come of it”? Their condemnation is just.

No One Is Righteous

9 Question:

What then shall we conclude?

Are we Jews better than others?

Answer:

Not at all!

Explanation:

We have already charged that all, Jews and Gentiles alike, are under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:

“There is no one who is righteous, not [even] one person

11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks God. 12 Everyone has turned away. They have become worthless together. There is no one who does good; there is not even one.”a

Key Word: Righteous

The state of being “not guilty” in God’s court where sin is judged. Righteousness is bestowed upon believers by God through Jesus Christ and cannot be earned or increased by human effort.

13 “Their throats are open graves. They deceive with their tongues.”b “The poison of an asp is under their lips.”c 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”d 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16 “Ruin and misery are in their paths; 17 they don’t know the way of peace.”e 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”f

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

a See Psalms 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Ecclesiastes 7:20.

b See Psalm 5:9.

c See Psalm 140:3.

d See Psalm 10:7 in the Septuagint.

e See Isaiah 59:7–8.

f See Psalm 36:1.

Therefore

no person will be declared righteous in God’s sight a by doing the works of the law.

For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

Part 3. God’s Actions to Make Us Righteous

Righteousness Comes Through Faith, Not Obedience to the Law

21 But now the righteousness of God has been made known apart from the law. This is told to usb by the Law and the Prophets.

22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ c to all who believe, for there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified as a gift by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as propitiationd through [the shedding of] his blood to be received through faith. This gift demonstrates his righteousness, because in his forbearance e he had left unpunishedf the sins previously committed, and 26 demonstrates his righteousness at the present time so that he would be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Question:

Where then is there room for boasting?

Answer: It is excluded.

a Literally, “no flesh will be justified before him.” See Psalm 143:2.

b Literally, “This is borne witness to.”

c Or “through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.”

d “Propitiation”: that which appeases or conciliates, makes the recipient favorably inclined.

e “Forbearance”: a combination of patience and restraint. The quality of putting up with people, not striking out and/or demanding what is right/due from another.

f Literally, “had passed over.”

Question:

By what kind of law is it excluded?

Answer:

That which requires works? No, by the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from doing the works of the law.

29 Question:

Is God the God of Jews only?

Isn’t he also God of the Gentiles?

Key Word: Justify

To declare “not guilty,” though guilty according to the facts; to declare as innocent according to the legal proceedings (because, in the believer’s case, Jesus has intervened to have the charges dismissed, made irrelevant by completely satisfying the plaintiff’s claims).

Answer: Yes, he is God of the Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God who will justify— the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

31 Question:

Do we then nullify a the law of God by having this faith?

Answer: Absolutely not!

Rather, we uphold the law.b

Romans 4

Abraham Was Justified by Faith

1

Question:

What then shall we say that Abraham, our biological forefather,c discovered about justification?

Answer:

2 If Abraham was justified by his works, he would have had something to boast about, but not before the eyes of God. 3 For what does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”d

Explanation:

4 Now to anyone who works to earn an income, their wages are not credited to them as a gift but are credited as an obligation for their work. But anyone 5 who doesn’t work to be justified, but who trusts hime who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited to them as righteousness.

a “Nullify”: make void or render inoperative.

b That is, we confirm that the purpose of the law is to (1) inform us about the mind and will of God and (2) convict us of sin. We confirm that keeping the law doesn’t justify us.

c Literally, “father of us according to the flesh.”

d See Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:9.

e Or “believes in him.”

6

It is just as King David says of the blessing on the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless actions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will not count against them.”a

Jews and Gentiles Alike Are Justified by Faith

Question:

9

Is this blessing only for the circumcised (i.e., Jews) or for the uncircumcised (i.e., Gentiles) too?

Answer:

Question:

10

We say that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.b

Under what circumstancesc was it credited to him?

While he was circumcised or uncircumcised?

Answer:

Not while he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised!d

Explanation:

11 He received the sign of circumcisione (an authenticating stamp f of the righteousness that he had by faith) while he was still uncircumcised, so he would become the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them too, 12 and the father of those who are circumcised, who not only are circumcised, but also follow in the steps of the faith that our father Abraham had while uncircumcised.

You Cannot Be Justified by Obedience to the Law

13 For the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he would be heir of the world g was not received by obedience to the law but was received through the righteousness put into effect by faith.h

a See Psalm 32:1–2.

b See Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3.

c Literally, “How then.”

d Abraham was counted as righteous at Genesis 15:6, about thirteen years before his circumcision (17:24).

e See Genesis 17:10–11, 24.

f Literally, “a seal,” like a document’s wax seal imprinted by a signet ring.

g See Genesis 18:18; 22:17–18.

h Literally, “righteousness of faith.”