Commentary on Romans, Biblical exegesis 1 · Chapter 4 · Section 1
1. The text with the diuers readings.
v. 1. What shall we say then, that Abraham our father hath found concerning the flesh.
2 For if Abraham were iustified by works, he hath wherein to glorie, Be. (to reioyce, … to boast) he hath glorie. L.T. the word is foreign, he hath matter of reioycing:) but with God.
3 For what saith the Scripture? but Abraham beleeued God, Be.V.T. (Abraham beleeued God. L.B.G. but here the Greeke particle foreign, is omitted) and it was counted (or rep… ted. L.) to him for righteousnes.
4 Now to him that worketh, the wages (reward. B.R. but a reward may be of fauour, so is not wages) is not counted by fauour, (or, of grace, Be.) but of debt: (dutie, Be. but foreign signifieth debt)
5 But to him that worketh not, but beleeueth in him, that iustifieth the vngodly, his faith is counted for righteousnesse: (according to the purpose of God. L. this is not in the originall, nor yet translated in the Syriake.)
6 Euen as Dauid declareth G. (or pronounceth. Be. or expresseth. V. rather then te… meth. R. the word is foreign, saith, calleth) the blessednesse of the man, vntounto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without workes.
7. Blessed are they whose iniquires are forgiuen, and whose sinnes are couered.
8. Blessed is the man to whome the Lord (not our Lord, L. R.) imputeth not sinne. G. (hath not imputed, L.R. will not impute. T. B. the word is in the future tense, but according to the phrase of the Hebrew, it is taken for the present.)
9 Came this blessednes G. Be. (or belongeth it. V. or befalleth, B. better then abideth, remaineth. L. R. there is no word expressed in the originall, it must be supplied and vnderstood) vponupon the circumcision onelyonly, or vponupon the vncircumcision also? (the prepuce. R. but that is no English word) For we say, that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousnes.
10 How was it then imputed? when he was in circumcision, (when he was circumcised, G. the word is foreign, in circumcision) or in vncircumcision? not in the circumcision, but in vncircumcision.
11 And (or after, G.) he receiued the signe of circumcision, as the seale of the righteousnes of faith (which he had) in vncircumcision, that he should be father of all them which beleeue in vncircumcision, (that is, beeing not yet circumcised, not by vncircumcision, V. L. R. the preposition foreign, is better here translated in: for by vncircumcision they did not beleeue, that were to giuegive more vertue to vncircumcision, then to circumcision) that righteousnes might be imputed to them also,
12 And the father of circumcision, not vntounto them onelyonly which are of the circumcision, but vntounto them also which walke in the steppes of the faith, which was euen in vncircumcision, of our father Abraham.
13 For not by the law was the promise giuen to Abraham or his seede, that he should be the heire of the world, but thorough the righteousnes of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heires, faith is in vaine, B. (or made void, G.) and the promise is made of none effect.
15 For the law procureth (or causeth, G. worketh, L.) wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore (the inheritance) is of faith, that it might be by grace, that the promise might be sure to all the seede, not to that onelyonly, which is of the law, but also to that, which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of vsus all,
17 (As it is written, a father of many nations hauehave I appointed thee) euen before God (not according to the example of God. V.) whome he beleeued, (not whome thou didst beleeue. T. L. or whome ye beleeued, B. the word is foreign, he beleeued) who quickneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not, as though they were. (not as those things which are, L. for the speaketh of the same things still, which God causeth to be, whereas they were yet nothing.)
18 Who contrarie to hope, B.Be.L. (aboue hope. G. beside hope. V. without hope: the preposition foreign is here taken in the first sense: for Abrahams hope was in deede beyond all expectation) beleeued vnderunder hope, that he should be the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken to him: So shall thy seede be. (as the starres of heauen, and the sand of the Sea, L.R. but these words are not in the originall)
19 And he not weake in faith, considered not his owne bodie, (he was not weake in faith, when he considered his bodie, T. but in the originall it is put negatiuely, he considered not) which was now dead, beeing almost an hundred yeares old, neither the deadnes of Saras tombe.
20 Neither did he stagger (or stirke. L.V.T. doubt. G. dispute. B. the word is foreign it is better taken here in the first sense) at the promise of God thorough vnbeleefe, but was strengthened in the faith, and gaue glorie vntounto God.
21 Beeing fully assured G. (or perswaded. V. Be. certified, B. rather then fully knowing, L.R. the word is foreign, which signifieth not onelyonly knowledge in the vnderstanding, but assurance also in the heart) that he which had promised, was also able to doe it.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousnes.
23 Now it is not written onelyonly for him, that it was imputed vntounto him: (for rightesounes, L.G.T. but these words are not in the originall)
24 But also for vsus, to whome it shall be imputed, beleeuing in him, which raised our Lord Iesus from the dead.
25 Who was deliuered vp for our sinnes, and was raised againe for our iustification.