The big picture
Romans 4 opens in verse 1 with “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his…”, and closes in verse 25 with “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Repeated or prominent terms include faith, righteousness, Abraham, father, circumcision. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Romans · King James Version · 25Romans 4:1-7
1–7: What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the…
Romans 4:1–7 opens with “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?” and reaches “Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 4 develops its own movement around faith, righteousness, Abraham, father, circumcision, with particular weight carried by Abraham, righteousness, counted.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Romans 4:1-7
King James Version1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Romans 4:8-14
8–14: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Romans 4:8–14 opens with “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” and reaches “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 4 develops its own movement around faith, righteousness, Abraham, father, circumcision, with particular weight carried by circumcision, faith, righteousness.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Romans 4:8-14
King James Version8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11And 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:
12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13For 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.
14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Romans 4:15-21
15–21: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no…
Romans 4:15–21 opens with “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” and reaches “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 4 develops its own movement around faith, righteousness, Abraham, father, circumcision, with particular weight carried by faith, father, believed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Romans 4:15-21
King James Version15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4:22-25
22–25: Therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:22–25 opens with “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” and reaches “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Romans 4 develops its own movement around faith, righteousness, Abraham, father, circumcision, with particular weight carried by imputed, raised, believe.
Romans 4:22-25
King James Version22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Romans 4:1 begins with “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?”
Where the chapter turns
Romans 4:10 forms a natural hinge: “How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.”
The final note
Romans 4:25 leaves the reader with “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words faith, righteousness, Abraham, father, circumcision, imputed help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.