Romans 4:2

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
For	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
if	εἰ ei	G1487	if · conditional particle
Abraham	Ἀβραὰμ Abraam	G11	Abraham · noun — nominative singular masculine, a proper name
justified	ἐδικαιώθη, edikaiōthē	G1344	to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent · verb — aorist passive indicative, 3rd person singular
by	ἐξ ex	G1537	literal or figurative · preposition
works	ἔργων ergōn	G2041	toil (as an effort or occupation) · noun — genitive plural neuter
hath	ἔχει echei	G2192	to hold (used in very various applications · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
glory	καύχημα kauchēma	G2745	a boast (properly · noun — accusative singular neuter
but	ἀλλ᾽ all᾽	G235	properly · conjunction
not	οὐ ou	G3756	the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb · particle — negative
before	πρὸς pros	G4314	a preposition of direction · preposition
God	θεόν. theon	G2316	figuratively · noun — accusative singular masculine, a title

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousnes…
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 3:20-28 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 4:1-8

Here the apostle proves that Abraham was justified not by works, but by faith. Those that of all men contended most vigorously for a share in righteousness by the privileges they enjoyed, and the works they performed, were the Jews, and therefore he appeals to the case of Abraham their father, and puts his own name to the relation, being a Hebrew of the Hebrews: Abraham our father. Now surely his prerogative must needs be as great as theirs who claim it as his seed according to the flesh. Now what has he found? All the world is seeking; but, while the most are wearying themselves for very vanity, none can be truly reckoned to have found, but those who are justified before God; and thus Abrah…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 4:2

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God--"If works were the ground of Abraham's justification, he would have matter for boasting; but as it is perfectly certain that he hath none in the sight of God, it follows that Abraham could not have been justified by works." And to this agree the words of Scripture.

Adam Clarke on Romans 4:2

For if Abraham were justified by works - The Jew proceeds: - I conclude, therefore, that Abraham was justified by works, or by his obedience to this law of circumcision; and, consequently, he has cause for glorying, καυχημα, to exult in something which he has done to entitle him to these blessings. Now, it is evident that he has this glorying, and consequently that he was justified by works. Apostle. But not before God - These seem to be the apostle's words, and contain the beginning of his answer to the arguments of the Jew, as if he had said: - Allowing that Abraham might glory in being called from heathenish darkness into such marvellous light, and exult in the privileges which God had gr…

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John Gill on Romans 4:2

For if Abraham were justified by works,.... That Abraham was not, and could not be justified by works, is clear from hence, that if this was his case, he hath whereof to glory; which will be allowed him before men, on account of his pious life and conversation: but not before God; who saw all the iniquity of his heart, and was privy to all his failings and infirmities: besides, glorying before God in a man's own works, is contrary to the scheme and method of God's grace; is excluded by the doctrine of faith; nor is there any place for glorying before God but in Christ, and his righteousness: if therefore Abraham had not that of which he could glory before God, he could not be justified by…

The Church Fathers

The accomplishment of good works honors those who do them, but it does not reveal the kindness of God. Faith, on the other hand, reveals both the love for God of the one who believes and God's kindness.
— Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

If Abraham was justified because of his circumcision, then God gave him nothing and he could have gloried in what he did to himself. Or it may mean that if Abraham carried out the ordinances, he had glory in his own eyes but not in God's.
— Pelagius, PELAGIUS'S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS

Since Abraham without the law obtained glory not by the works of the law (as if he could fulfill the law in his own strength), since the law had not yet been given, the glory belongs to God, not to him. For he was justified not by his own merit, as if by works, but by the grace of God through faith.
— Augustine of Hippo, AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 20

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Bigotry · PAUL’S ARGUMENT AGAINST — PAUL’S ARGUMENT AGAINST
Catholicity · INCUL — INCUL
Faith · 10:20;14:32;26:3;30:15;57:13; — 10:20;14:32;26:3;30:15;57:13;
Justification Before God · By faith: Excludes boasting — By faith: Excludes boasting

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Romans 4:2

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 4:1-8

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 4:2

Adam Clarke on Romans 4:2

John Gill on Romans 4:2

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Romans 4:2

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 4:1-8

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 4:2

Adam Clarke on Romans 4:2

John Gill on Romans 4:2

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on Romans 4:1-3

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Romans 4:1