Romans 4:1

Romans 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
• New International Version (NIV)What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?
• English Standard Version (ESV)What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
• New King James Version (NKJV)What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?

Context of Romans 4:1

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”

Romans 4:1 word by word

Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν εὑρηκέναι Ἀβραὰμ τὸν προπάτορα ἡμῶν κατὰ σάρκα;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• shall we sayἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• as pertaining toκατάkata · according toG2596
• the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• hath foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147

Cross-references for Romans 4:1

• Romans 6:1Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?
• Romans 7:7Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”
• Romans 8:31What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
• Isaiah 51:2Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”
• Matthew 3:9Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
• Luke 3:8Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.
• Luke 16:24“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
• John 8:33“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
• Acts 13:26“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us!
• 2 Corinthians 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
• Romans 4:16So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.
• Hebrews 12:9Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

Commentaries on Romans 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Jew. What shall we then say that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? - The , pertaining to the flesh, must here refer to the sign in Abraham's flesh, viz. his circumcision; on which the Jew would found his right to peculiar blessings. That this is the meaning of , according to the flesh, Dr. Taylor has proved by a collation of several parallel scriptures, which it is not necessary to produce here. We may, therefore, suppose the Jew…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1What shall we say then? - See Romans 3:1. This is rather the objection of a Jew. “How does your doctrine of justification by faith agree with what the Scriptures say of Abraham? Was the Law set aside in his case? Did he derive no advantage in justification from the rite of circumcision, and from the covenant which God made with him?” The object of the apostle now is to answer this inquiry. That Abraham our father - Our ancestor; the father and founder of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Chapter Outline The doctrine of justification by faith is shown by the case of Abraham. (1-12) He received the promise through the righteousness of faith. (13-22) And we are justified in the same way of believing. (23-25) Verses 1-12 To meet the views of the Jews, the apostle first refers to the example of Abraham, in whom the Jews gloried as their most renowned forefather. However exalted in various respects, he had nothing to boast in the presence of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Jews in Paul’s time honored Abraham as the founder of Israel. Some Jewish writings even claim that Abraham never sinned (Prayer of Manasseh 8; Jubilees 23:10). Other writings stress his obedience and connect his relationship with God to keeping the law of Moses (1 Maccabees 2:52; Sirach 44:19–20). Paul argues differently. He shows that Abraham’s faith, not his obedience to the law, is what put him in a right relationship with God. Because Abraham is the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-25First: Abraham was justified by faith. 1-3. What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?--that is, (as the order in the original shows), "hath found, as pertaining to ('according to,' or 'through') the flesh"; meaning, "by all his natural efforts or legal obedience."Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 4:1

• Abraham
• Bigotry
• Catholicity
• Faith
• Salvation
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• Abraham, Abram
• Flesh
• Impute
• Quicken
• Raise
• Reckon
• Stagger
• Unbelief
• Void

Commentaries on Romans 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings