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frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/romans/4-12.htm" title="Romans 4:12">◄</a> Romans 4:13 <a href="/romans/4-14.htm" title="Romans 4:14">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/romans/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/romans/4.htm">New International Version</a> It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. <a href="/nlt/romans/4.htm">New Living Translation</a> Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. <a href="/esv/romans/4.htm">English Standard Version</a> For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/bsb/romans/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. <a href="/blb/romans/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For the promise was to Abraham or his descendants that he should be heir of the world, not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/kjv/romans/4.htm">King James Bible</a> For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/nkjv/romans/4.htm">New King James Version</a> For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/nasb_/romans/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/nasb/romans/4.htm">NASB 1995</a> For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/nasb77/romans/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a> For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/lsb/romans/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/amp/romans/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through [observing the requirements of] the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/csb/romans/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. <a href="/hcsb/romans/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. <a href="/asv/romans/4.htm">American Standard Version</a> For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/cev/romans/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> God promised Abraham and his descendants that he would give them the world. This promise wasn't made because Abraham had obeyed a law, but because his faith in God made him acceptable. <a href="/erv/romans/4.htm">English Revised Version</a> For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/gwt/romans/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> So it was not by obeying Moses' Teachings that Abraham or his descendants received the promise that he would inherit the world. Rather, it was through God's approval of his faith. <a href="/gnt/romans/4.htm">Good News Translation</a> When God promised Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him, he did so, not because Abraham obeyed the Law, but because he believed and was accepted as righteous by God. <a href="/isv/romans/4.htm">International Standard Version</a> For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith. <a href="/msb/romans/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. <a href="/net/romans/4.htm">NET Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. <a href="/nheb/romans/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham and to his descendants that he should be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/wbt/romans/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For the promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/wey/romans/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Again, the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his posterity conditioned by Law, but by faith-righteousness. <a href="/web/romans/4.htm">World English Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/romans/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> For not through law [is] the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, of his being heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith; <a href="/blb/romans/4.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For the promise was to Abraham or his descendants that he should be heir of the world, not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/ylt/romans/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> For not through law is the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, of his being heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith; <a href="/slt/romans/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For not by the law, the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, for him to be heir of the world, but by the justice of faith.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/romans/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> For not through the law was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world; but through the justice of faith. <a href="/cpdv/romans/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faith. <a href="/nabre/romans/4.htm">New American Bible</a> It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. <a href="/nrsvce/romans/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/romans/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> For the promise to Abraham and his seed that he should inherit the world was not made through the law, but through the righteousness of his faith. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/romans/4.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> For it was not by The Written Law that The Promise came to Abraham and his seed, that he would be the heir to the universe, but by the righteousness of his faith.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/romans/4.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, nor to his posterity, through law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/godbey/romans/4.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> For the promise to Abraham or his seed, that he should be the heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/haweis/romans/4.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> For not by the law came the promise to Abraham and his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but by the righteousness of faith. <a href="/mace/romans/4.htm">Mace New Testament</a> Besides, the promise that he should possess the world, was not made to Abraham, or to his posterity in consideration of the law, but with regard to the righteousness by faith. <a href="/wey/romans/4.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Again, the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his posterity conditioned by Law, but by faith-righteousness. <a href="/worrell/romans/4.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> For, not through law, was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith. <a href="/worsley/romans/4.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> For the promise made to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of faith: <a href="/parallel/romans/4-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KIZs4GUMn-g?start=950" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/romans/4.htm">Abraham Receives the Promise</a> 12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13<a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">For</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hē (Art-NFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1860.htm" title="1860: epangelia (N-NFS) -- A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.">promise</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/11.htm" title="11: Abraam (N-DMS) -- Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.">to Abraham</a> <a href="/greek/2228.htm" title="2228: ē (Conj) -- Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.">and</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4690.htm" title="4690: spermati (N-DNS) -- From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant.">offspring</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-NNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">that</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">he</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: einai (V-PNA) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">would be</a> <a href="/greek/2818.htm" title="2818: klēronomon (N-AMS) -- From kleros and the base of nomos (reflexively) getting by apportionment); a sharer by lot, i.e. Inheritor; by implication, a possessor.">heir</a> <a href="/greek/2889.htm" title="2889: kosmou (N-GMS) -- Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).">of the world</a> <a href="/greek/3756.htm" title="3756: Ou (Adv) -- No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.">was not</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">given through</a> <a href="/greek/3551.htm" title="3551: nomou (N-GMS) -- From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.">the law,</a> <a href="/greek/235.htm" title="235: alla (Conj) -- But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.">but</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">through</a> <a href="/greek/1343.htm" title="1343: dikaiosynēs (N-GFS) -- From dikaios; equity; specially justification.">the righteousness</a> <a href="/greek/4102.htm" title="4102: pisteōs (N-GFS) -- Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness. ">that comes by faith.</a> 14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/galatians/3-16.htm">Galatians 3:16-18</a> The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ. / What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. / For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise. <a href="/genesis/12-1.htm">Genesis 12:1-3</a> Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” <a href="/hebrews/11-8.htm">Hebrews 11:8-10</a> By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. <a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5-6</a> And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” / Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. <a href="/galatians/3-29.htm">Galatians 3:29</a> And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. <a href="/genesis/17-4.htm">Genesis 17:4-6</a> “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. / No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. / I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. <a href="/hebrews/6-13.htm">Hebrews 6:13-15</a> When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, / saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” / And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17-18</a> I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” <a href="/galatians/3-7.htm">Galatians 3:7-9</a> Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” / So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. <a href="/genesis/13-14.htm">Genesis 13:14-17</a> After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, “Now lift up your eyes from the place where you are, and look to the north and south and east and west, / for all the land that you see, I will give to you and your offspring forever. / I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted. ... <a href="/ephesians/2-8.htm">Ephesians 2:8-9</a> For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast. <a href="/genesis/26-3.htm">Genesis 26:3-4</a> Stay in this land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. / I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, <a href="/james/2-23.htm">James 2:23</a> And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. <a href="/genesis/28-13.htm">Genesis 28:13-14</a> And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. <a href="/galatians/4-28.htm">Galatians 4:28</a> Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.For the.<a href="/genesis/12-3.htm">Genesis 12:3</a> And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.<a href="/genesis/17-4.htm">Genesis 17:4,5,16</a> As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations… <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17,18</a> That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; … through the.<a href="/galatians/3-16.htm">Galatians 3:16-18,29</a> Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ… but through.<a href="/romans/4-11.htm">Romans 4:11</a> And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/romans/4-12.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/acts/13-26.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/acts/26-14.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/romans/4-12.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/romans/4-11.htm">Faith-Righteousness</a> <a href="/romans/3-25.htm">God's</a> <a href="/luke/20-14.htm">Heir</a> <a href="/acts/26-18.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/luke/18-18.htm">Inherit</a> <a href="/romans/3-31.htm">Law</a> <a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/romans/1-3.htm">Posterity</a> <a href="/acts/26-7.htm">Promise</a> <a href="/romans/4-11.htm">Received</a> <a href="/romans/4-11.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/romans/1-3.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/psalms/37-1.htm">sness</a> <a href="/acts/28-5.htm">Wasn't</a> <a href="/romans/1-25.htm">Word</a> <a href="/romans/3-19.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/romans/8-39.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/romans/4-14.htm">Faith</a> <a href="/romans/4-11.htm">Faith-Righteousness</a> <a href="/romans/4-20.htm">God's</a> <a href="/galatians/4-1.htm">Heir</a> <a href="/romans/4-14.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">Inherit</a> <a href="/romans/4-14.htm">Law</a> <a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/romans/4-18.htm">Posterity</a> <a href="/romans/4-14.htm">Promise</a> <a href="/romans/5-11.htm">Received</a> <a href="/romans/4-22.htm">Righteousness</a> <a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/psalms/37-1.htm">sness</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/11-9.htm">Wasn't</a> <a href="/romans/4-14.htm">Word</a> <a href="/romans/5-12.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Romans 4</div>1. <a href="/romans/4-1.htm">Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness;</a> 10. <a href="/romans/4-10.htm">before he was circumcised.</a> 13. <a href="/romans/4-13.htm">By faith only he and his seed received the promise.</a> 16. <a href="/romans/4-16.htm">Abraham is the father of all who believe.</a> 24. <a href="/romans/4-24.htm">Our faith also shall be credited to us as righteousness.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/romans/4.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>It was not through the law The phrase emphasizes the distinction between the law and the promise given to Abraham. The Greek word for "law" is "νόμος" (nomos), which refers to the Mosaic Law given to Israel. Historically, the law was given to guide the Israelites in their covenant relationship with God. However, Paul underscores that Abraham's promise was not contingent upon adherence to this law, which was given centuries later. This highlights the precedence of faith over legalistic observance, a foundational principle in Christian theology.that Abraham and his offspring "Abraham" is a central figure in biblical history, known as the father of faith. His "offspring" (Greek: "σπέρμα" - sperma) refers not only to his physical descendants, the Israelites, but also to all who share in his faith, including Gentile believers. This broadens the scope of God's promise, showing its fulfillment in a spiritual lineage that transcends ethnic boundaries, aligning with God's plan for a universal family of believers.received the promise The "promise" (Greek: "ἐπαγγελία" - epangelia) refers to God's covenantal assurance to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and that through him, all nations would be blessed (<a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2-3</a>). This promise is foundational to understanding God's redemptive plan, which is fulfilled in Christ. It signifies a divine commitment that is not dependent on human effort but on God's faithfulness.that he would be heir of the world The term "heir" (Greek: "κληρονόμος" - klēronomos) implies inheritance, a key biblical theme. Abraham's inheritance is not limited to physical land but extends to a spiritual inheritance encompassing the whole world. This reflects the eschatological vision where believers, as Abraham's spiritual descendants, inherit the kingdom of God. It points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the new creation.but through the righteousness "Righteousness" (Greek: "δικαιοσύνη" - dikaiosynē) is a central theme in Paul's writings, denoting a right standing with God. This righteousness is not achieved by human effort but is imputed by God through faith. It underscores the transformative power of faith, which aligns believers with God's will and purposes, enabling them to partake in His promises.that comes by faith The phrase "by faith" (Greek: "πίστεως" - pisteōs) encapsulates the essence of the gospel message. Faith is the means by which believers receive God's promises, contrasting with the works-based approach of the law. This faith is not mere intellectual assent but a deep trust and reliance on God's character and promises. It is through this faith that believers are justified and become partakers of the divine inheritance promised to Abraham. This principle of faith over works is a cornerstone of Christian doctrine, emphasizing grace and the believer's relationship with God.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/romans/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) Abraham was the father of all who walk in his steps. For this all is not limited by the Law any more than it is limited by circumcision. The promise of that world-wide inheritance was not given through the agency of the Law (which at that time did not exist), but as an effect of the righteousness which proceeds from faith.Heir of the world.--This promise was explained by the Jews of the universal sovereignty of the Messiah.Through the righteousness of faith.--As a further consequence of that (imputed) righteousness which proceeds from faith. Three stages are indicated: (1) faith, (2) imputed righteousness, (3) access to the Messianic kingdom with all its privileges.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/romans/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 13-15. - For not through law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be the heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith, For if they which are of law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect. For the Law worketh wrath: for where no law is, neither is there transgression. The point of the argument is that the principle of law is essentially different from that on which Abraham was justified, and which is hence to be understood in the fulfilment of the promise to him and his seed. How this is so is shortly intimated in ver. 15, the idea being more fully expounded in ch. 7. The idea is (as has been already explained) that law simply declares what is right, and requires conformity to it; it does not give either power to obey, or atonement for not obeying. Hence, in itself, it worketh, not righteousness, but wrath; for man becomes fully liable to wrath when he comes to know, through law, the difference between right and wrong (cf. <a href="/john/9-41.htm">John 9:41</a>, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin"). Exactly the same view of the impossibility of the Mosaic Law being the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham is found in <a href="/galatians/3.htm">Galatians 3</a>, where also the real purpose of the Law, intervening thus between the promise and its fulfilment, is further explained. The expression in ver. 13, "that he should be the heir of the world," has reference to the ultimate scope of the Abrahamic promises (see <a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2, 3</a>; <a href="/genesis/13-14.htm">Genesis 13:14-16</a>; <a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5, 6, 18</a>; <a href="/genesis/17-2.htm">Genesis 17:2-9</a>; <a href="/genesis/18-18.htm">Genesis 18:18</a>; <a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17, 18</a>). Now, it is true that in some of these promises the language used seems to denote no more than the temporal possession by Israel of the promised land, with dominion (actually realized under David and Solomon) over the whole country from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates, as in <a href="/genesis/13-14.htm">Genesis 13:14, 15</a>; <a href="/genesis/15-18.htm">Genesis 15:18</a>, etc. But their full scope transcends any such limited fulfilment, as where it is said that the promised seed should be as the stars of heaven, and as the dust of the earth that cannot be numbered, and that in it all the nations of the earth should be blessed. The prophets accordingly recognized a far larger ultimate fulfilment in their frequent pictures of the Messiah's universal dominion; and there was no need for the apostle to prove here what the Jews already understood. The only difference between the view current among them and his would be that they would mostly have in view a universal worldly sovereignty with its local centre on the throne of David at Jerusalem, while he interpreted spirttually, seeing beyond the outward framework of prophetic visions to the ideal they imply. "Heres mundi idem est quod pater omnium gentium, benedictionem accipientium. Totus mundus promissus est Abrahae et semini ejus per totum mundum conjunctim. Abrahamo obtigit terra Canaan, et sic aliis alia pars; atque corporalia sunt specimen spiritualium. Christus beres mundi, et omuium (<a href="/hebrews/1-2.htm">Hebrews 1:2</a>; <a href="/hebrews/2-5.htm">Hebrews 2:5</a>; <a href="/revelation/11-15.htm">Revelation 11:15</a>), et qui in eum credunt Abrahae exemplo (<a href="/matthew/5-5.htm">Matthew 5:5</a>) (Bengel). It is to be observed that, though Abraham himself in ver. 13 is spoken of as "the heir of the world," yet the preceding expression, "to Abrabam or to his seed," sufficiently intimates that it is in his seed, identified with him, that he is conceived as so inheriting. <a href="/commentaries/romans/4-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>For γὰρ (gar) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. it was not Οὐ (Ou) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3756.htm">Strong's 3756: </a> No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. through διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. [the] Law νόμου (nomou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3551.htm">Strong's 3551: </a> From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively. [that] Abraham Ἀβραὰμ (Abraam) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_11.htm">Strong's 11: </a> Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch. [and] ἢ (ē) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2228.htm">Strong's 2228: </a> Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. descendants σπέρματι (spermati) Noun - Dative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4690.htm">Strong's 4690: </a> From speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed; by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant. were promised ἐπαγγελία (epangelia) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1860.htm">Strong's 1860: </a> A promise. From epaggello; an announcement. that τὸ (to) Article - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. he αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. would be εἶναι (einai) Verb - Present Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. heir κληρονόμον (klēronomon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2818.htm">Strong's 2818: </a> From kleros and the base of nomos (reflexively) getting by apportionment); a sharer by lot, i.e. Inheritor; by implication, a possessor. [of the] world, κόσμου (kosmou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2889.htm">Strong's 2889: </a> Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally). but ἀλλὰ (alla) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_235.htm">Strong's 235: </a> But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise. through διὰ (dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. [the] righteousness δικαιοσύνης (dikaiosynēs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1343.htm">Strong's 1343: </a> From dikaios; equity; specially justification. that comes by faith. πίστεως (pisteōs) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4102.htm">Strong's 4102: </a> Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/romans/4-13.htm">NT Letters: Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham (Rom. Ro) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/romans/4-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Romans 4:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Romans 4:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/romans/4-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Romans 4:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Romans 4:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>