Devine Scripture

Romans 4:5

What does Romans 4:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Romans 4:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Romans 4:5 means

Here Paul states the scandalous beauty of the gospel: God justifies the ungodly. The person who does not rely on works but believes in the God who declares the unworthy righteous has that faith counted as righteousness. Faith is not a work that earns salvation; it is trusting dependence on the One who saves. This verse insists that the starting line is not moral improvement but divine pardon. The ungodly are the very candidates God receives, because justification is His gracious verdict. Such faith rests not in self but in God’s promise, and in the chapter’s climax, that promise is tied to the God who raised Jesus from the dead.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But to him who without working has faith in him who gives righteousness to the evil-doer, his faith is put to his account as righteousness.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and to him who is not working, and is believing upon Him who is declaring righteous the impious, his faith is reckoned--to righteousness:

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but to him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Context

After distinguishing wages from grace, Paul reveals whom God actually justifies—the ungodly—and how—through faith. This intensifies the argument that righteousness is credited apart from works. To confirm that this is no novelty, Paul will now bring David’s voice in verses 6–8, showing that the blessedness of forgiveness and non-imputation has always been the experience of God’s people. The flow moves from Abraham’s example to a general statement, then to David’s supportive witness.

v.4Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.

v.5This passage

v.6Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 5:6

    For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.

  • Romans 8:30

    and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

  • Romans 3:22

    even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;

  • Habakkuk 2:4

    Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.

  • Galatians 2:16

    yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

  • Galatians 3:8

    And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed.

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