Romans 4:16
What does Romans 4:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Romans 4:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Romans 4:16 means
For this reason the inheritance is of faith, so that it may be in accordance with grace. Faith aligns with grace because it looks away from self and rests on God’s promise. This design makes the promise certain to all the seed—not only to those connected to the law (Jews), but also to those who share Abraham’s faith (Gentiles). Thus Abraham is the father of us all in the realm of faith. God’s way secures both universality and assurance: if the promise depends on grace received by faith, it cannot be undone by human failure or limited by ethnic boundary.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may 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
KJV
King James Version · 1611Therefore 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,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may 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
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For this reason it is of faith, so that it may be through grace; and so that the word of God may be certain to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Because of this <FI>it is<Fi> of faith, that <FI>it may be<Fi> according to grace, for the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that which <FI>is<Fi> of the law only, but also to that which <FI>is<Fi> of the faith of Abraham,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm 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,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Therefore [it is] on the principle of faith, that [it might be] according to grace, in order to the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that only which [is] of the law, but to that also which [is] of Abraham's faith, who is father of us all,
Context
This verse states the positive conclusion drawn from verses 13–15. With law excluded as the basis, faith is established as the channel that matches grace and guarantees the promise to all Abraham’s offspring defined by faith. Verse 17 will ground this in Scripture and in God’s character—He made Abraham a father of many nations and has power to bring life from the dead and call into being what does not exist.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 3:7
that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- 2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:
- Romans 5:1
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
- Galatians 3:7
Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.
- Ephesians 2:5
even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),
- Romans 15:8
For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given unto the fathers,
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