Romans 4:1-5,Romans 4:13-17,John 3:16,John 3:1-17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:4

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt - Therefore, if Abraham had been justified by works, the blessings he received would have been given to him as a reward for those works, and consequently his believing could have had no part in his justification, and his faith would have been useless. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:5

But to him that worketh not - Which was the case with Abraham, for he was called when he was ungodly, i.e. an idolater; and, on his believing, was freely justified: and, as all men have sinned, none can be justified by works; and, therefore, justification, if it take place at all, must take place in behalf of the ungodly, forasmuch as all mankind are such. Now, as Abraham's state and mode in which he was justified, are the plan and rule according to which God purposes to save men; and as his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:1

Verse 1 1.What then, etc. This is a confirmation by example; and it is a very strong one, since all things are alike with regard to the subject and the person; for he was the father of the faithful, to whom we ought all to be conformed; and there is also but one way and not many ways by which righteousness may be obtained by all. In many other things one example would not be sufficient to make a common rule; but as in the person of Abraham there was exhibited a mirror and pattern of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:2

Verse 2 2.For if Abraham, etc. This is an incomplete argument, (131) which may be made in this form — “If Abraham was justified by works, he might justly glory: but he had nothing for which he could glory before God; then he was not justified by works.” Thus the clause but not before God, is the minor proposition; and to this must be added the conclusion which I have stated, though it is not expressed by Paul. He calls that glorying when we pretend to have anything of our own to which a reward... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:3

Verse 3 3.For what saith the Scripture? This is a proof of the minor proposition, or of what he assumed, when he denied that Abraham had any ground for glorying: for if Abraham was justified, because he embraced, by faith, the bountiful mercy of God, it follows, that he had nothing to glory in; for he brought nothing of his own, except a confession of his misery, which is a solicitation for mercy. He, indeed, takes it as granted, that the righteousness of faith is the refuge, and, as it were,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:4

Verse 4 4.To him indeed who works, etc. It is not he, whom he calls a worker, who is given to good works, to which all the children of God ought to attend, but the person who seeks to merit something by his works: and in a similar way he calls him no worker who depends not on the merit of what he does. He would not, indeed, have the faithful to be idle; but he only forbids them to be mercenaries, so as to demand any thing from God, as though it were justly their due. We have before reminded... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:5

Verse 5 5. But believes on him, etc. This is a very important sentence, in which he expresses the substance and nature both of faith and of righteousness. He indeed clearly shews that faith brings us righteousness, not because it is a meritorious act, but because it obtains for us the favor of God. (134) Nor does he declare only that God is the giver of righteousness, but he also arraigns us of unrighteousness, in order that the bounty of God may come to aid our necessity: in short, no one will... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1

What then shall we say that Abraham our father according to the flesh hath found? The connection, denoted by οὗν , with the preceding argument is rather with verses 27, 28 of Romans 3:1-31 ., than with its concluding winds, νόμον ἱστάνομεν . This appears, not only from the drift of Romans 4:1-25 ., but also from the word καύχημα in Romans 4:2 , connecting the thought with ποῦ οὗν ἡ καύχησις ; in Romans 3:27 . The line of thought is, in the first place,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-8

A test case. Abraham was their father ( John 8:1-59 .)—this they were proud to acknowledge; but what was his relationship to God? I. ABRAHAM 'S RIGHTEOUSNESS . Righteousness must be either absolute or imputed; e.g. a servant in employ, on the one hand tried and true, on the other hand false, but penitent and received again. Which was Abraham's? 1. If of works, it was absolute, and therefore he was in a position of proud integrity before God. Was it so? The whole history... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

(5) Abraham himself shown to have been justified by faith, and not by works, believers being his true heirs. The main points of the argument may be summarized thus: When Abraham obtained a blessing to himself and to his seed for ever, it was by faith, and not by works, that he is declared to have been justified so as to obtain it. Thus the promise to his seed, as well as to himself, rested on the principle of justification by faith only. The Law, of which the principle was essentially... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

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