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Romans 4-7
English Standard Version

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, (A)our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but (B)not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? (C)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now (D)to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but (E)believes in[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

7 (F)“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not (G)count his sin.”

9 Is this blessing then only for (H)the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? (I)For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 (J)He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was (K)to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For (L)the promise to Abraham and his offspring (M)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 (N)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For (O)the law brings wrath, but (P)where there is no law (Q)there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, (R)in order that the promise may rest on grace and (S)be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, (T)who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, (U)“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, (V)who gives life to the dead and calls into existence (W)the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, (X)“So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was (Y)as good as dead ((Z)since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered (AA)the barrenness[b] of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that (AB)God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But (AC)the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us (AD)who believe in (AE)him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 (AF)who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised (AG)for our justification.

Peace with God Through Faith

5 (AH)Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, (AI)we[c] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also (AJ)obtained access by faith[d] into this grace (AK)in which we stand, and (AL)we[e] rejoice[f] in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we (AM)rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering (AN)produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and (AO)hope does not put us to shame, because God's love (AP)has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6 For (AQ)while we were still weak, at the right time (AR)Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but (AS)God shows his love for us in that (AT)while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, (AU)we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from (AV)the wrath of God. 10 For if (AW)while we were enemies (AX)we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by (AY)his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received (AZ)reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as (BA)sin came into the world through one man, and (BB)death through sin, and (BC)so death spread to all men[g] because (BD)all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but (BE)sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not (BF)like the transgression of Adam, (BG)who was a type of (BH)the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for (BI)many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For (BJ)the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought (BK)justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness (BL)reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[h] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[i] leads to justification and life for (BM)all men. 19 For as by the one man's (BN)disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's (BO)obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now (BP)the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, (BQ)grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, (BR)as sin reigned in death, (BS)grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? (BT)Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can (BU)we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us (BV)who have been baptized (BW)into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were (BX)buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as (BY)Christ was raised from the dead by (BZ)the glory of the Father, we too might walk in (CA)newness of life.

5 For (CB)if we have been united with him in (CC)a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that (CD)our old self[j] (CE)was crucified with him in order that (CF)the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For (CG)one who has died (CH)has been set free[k] from sin. 8 Now (CI)if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that (CJ)Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; (CK)death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, (CL)once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves (CM)dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Let not (CN)sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 (CO)Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but (CP)present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For (CQ)sin (CR)will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? (CS)Are we to sin (CT)because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves (CU)to anyone as obedient slaves,[l] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But (CV)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the (CW)standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, (CX)having been set free from sin, (CY)have become slaves of righteousness. 19 (CZ)I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For (DA)just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members (DB)as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20 (DC)For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 (DD)But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things (DE)of which you are now ashamed? (DF)For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you (DG)have been set free from sin and (DH)have become slaves of God, (DI)the fruit you get leads to sanctification and (DJ)its end, eternal life. 23 (DK)For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Released from the Law

7 Or do you not know, brothers[m]—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For (DL)a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage.[n] 3 Accordingly, (DM)she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

4 Likewise, my brothers, (DN)you also have died (DO)to the law (DP)through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, (DQ)in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work (DR)in our members (DS)to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the (DT)new way of (DU)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.[o]

The Law and Sin

7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, (DV)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if (DW)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, (DX)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. (DY)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment (DZ)that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, (EA)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, (EB)deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So (EC)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, (ED)sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For (EE)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with (EF)the law, that it is good. 17 So now (EG)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells (EH)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 (EI)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, (EJ)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For (EK)I delight in the law of God, (EL)in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members (EM)another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from (EN)this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:5 Or but trusts; compare verse 24
  2. Romans 4:19 Greek deadness
  3. Romans 5:1 Some manuscripts let us
  4. Romans 5:2 Some manuscripts omit by faith
  5. Romans 5:2 Or let us; also verse 3
  6. Romans 5:2 Or boast; also verses 3, 11
  7. Romans 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18
  8. Romans 5:18 Or the trespass of one
  9. Romans 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one
  10. Romans 6:6 Greek man
  11. Romans 6:7 Greek has been justified
  12. Romans 6:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse; also verses 17, 19 (twice), 20
  13. Romans 7:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 4
  14. Romans 7:2 Greek law concerning the husband
  15. Romans 7:6 Greek of the letter
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Romans 4-7
New International Version

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say(A) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(B) discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(C) 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](D)

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(E) but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(F) 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b](G)

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?(H) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.(I) 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(J) So then, he is the father(K) of all who believe(L) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(M) that he would be heir of the world,(N) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(O) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(P) 15 because the law brings wrath.(Q) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(R)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(S) and may be guaranteed(T) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(U) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c](V) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(W) to the dead and calls(X) into being things that were not.(Y)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(Z) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d](AA) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(AB)—since he was about a hundred years old(AC)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(AD) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(AE) in his faith and gave glory to God,(AF) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(AG) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(AH) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(AI) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(AJ) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(AK) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(AL) and was raised to life for our justification.(AM)

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified(AN) through faith,(AO) we[e] have peace(AP) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(AQ) 2 through whom we have gained access(AR) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.(AS) And we[f] boast in the hope(AT) of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[g] also glory in our sufferings,(AU) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(AV) 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope(AW) does not put us to shame, because God’s love(AX) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,(AY) who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time,(AZ) when we were still powerless,(BA) Christ died for the ungodly.(BB) 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(BC)

9 Since we have now been justified(BD) by his blood,(BE) how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath(BF) through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies,(BG) we were reconciled(BH) to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!(BI) 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.(BJ)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,(BK) and death through sin,(BL) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned(BM)—

13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.(BN) 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam,(BO) who is a pattern of the one to come.(BP)

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,(BQ) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,(BR) overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death(BS) reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life(BT) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,(BU) so also one righteous act resulted in justification(BV) and life(BW) for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man(BX) the many were made sinners,(BY) so also through the obedience(BZ) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.(CA) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,(CB) 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death,(CC) so also grace(CD) might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life(CE) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?(CF) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?(CG) 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin;(CH) how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized(CI) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death(CJ) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead(CK) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.(CL)

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.(CM) 6 For we know that our old self(CN) was crucified with him(CO) so that the body ruled by sin(CP) might be done away with,[h] that we should no longer be slaves to sin(CQ)— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.(CR)

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.(CS) 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,(CT) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.(CU) 10 The death he died, he died to sin(CV) once for all;(CW) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin(CX) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign(CY) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,(CZ) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.(DA) 14 For sin shall no longer be your master,(DB) because you are not under the law,(DC) but under grace.(DD)

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?(DE) By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey(DF)—whether you are slaves to sin,(DG) which leads to death,(DH) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God(DI) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,(DJ) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching(DK) that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin(DL) and have become slaves to righteousness.(DM)

19 I am using an example from everyday life(DN) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness(DO) leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin,(DP) you were free from the control of righteousness.(DQ) 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!(DR) 22 But now that you have been set free from sin(DS) and have become slaves of God,(DT) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.(DU) 23 For the wages of sin is death,(DV) but the gift of God is eternal life(DW) in[i] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters(DX)—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.(DY) 3 So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress.(DZ) But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law(EA) through the body of Christ,(EB) that you might belong to another,(EC) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the realm of the flesh,[j](ED) the sinful passions aroused by the law(EE) were at work in us,(EF) so that we bore fruit for death.(EG) 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law(EH) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.(EI)

The Law and Sin

7 What shall we say, then?(EJ) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!(EK) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.(EL) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[k](EM) 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(EN) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.(EO) 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life(EP) actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(EQ) deceived me,(ER) and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.(ES)

13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good(ET) to bring about my death,(EU) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(EV) sold(EW) as a slave to sin.(EX) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.(EY) 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.(EZ) 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.(FA) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[l](FB) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.(FC) 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.(FD)

21 So I find this law at work:(FE) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being(FF) I delight in God’s law;(FG) 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war(FH) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin(FI) at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?(FJ) 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!(FK)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,(FL) but in my sinful nature[m] a slave to the law of sin.(FM)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  2. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
  3. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  4. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5
  5. Romans 5:1 Many manuscripts let us
  6. Romans 5:2 Or let us
  7. Romans 5:3 Or let us
  8. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless
  9. Romans 6:23 Or through
  10. Romans 7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  11. Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21
  12. Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
  13. Romans 7:25 Or in the flesh
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