Romans 4:2
New International Version
If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.

New Living Translation
If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way.

English Standard Version
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Berean Standard Bible
If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

Berean Literal Bible
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has ground of boasting, but not toward God.

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

New King James Version
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

New American Standard Bible
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God.

NASB 1995
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

NASB 1977
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God.

Legacy Standard Bible
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God!

Amplified Bible
For if Abraham was justified [that is, acquitted from the guilt of his sins] by works [those things he did that were good], he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Christian Standard Bible
If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about—but not before God.

American Standard Version
For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For if Abraham were declared righteous by works, he would have had pride; but not in the presence of God.

Contemporary English Version
If he became acceptable to God because of what he did, then he would have something to brag about. But he would never be able to brag about it to God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.

English Revised Version
For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If Abraham had God's approval because of something he did, he would have had a reason to brag. But he could not brag to God about it.

Good News Translation
If he was put right with God by the things he did, he would have something to boast about--but not in God's sight.

International Standard Version
For if Abraham was justified by actions, he would have had something to boast about—though not before God.

Literal Standard Version
For if Abraham was declared righteous by works, he has to boast—but not before God;

Majority Standard Bible
If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

New American Bible
Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast; but this was not so in the sight of God.

NET Bible
For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about--but not before God.

New Revised Standard Version
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

New Heart English Bible
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Webster's Bible Translation
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.

Weymouth New Testament
For if he was held to be righteous on the ground of his actions, he has something to boast of; but not in the presence of God.

World English Bible
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

Young's Literal Translation
for if Abraham by works was declared righteous, he hath to boast -- but not before God;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Abraham Justified by Faith
1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered? 2If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”…

Cross References
Romans 3:27
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith.

1 Corinthians 1:31
Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."


Treasury of Scripture

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

Abraham.

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…

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 righteousness which is of God by faith:

he hath.

Romans 3:27
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Romans 15:17
I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

Ezekiel 8:9
And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.

but.

Genesis 12:12,13,18,20
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive…

Genesis 20:9-13
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done…

Joshua 24:2
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

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Abraham Actions Boast Declared Fact Glory Ground Held Justified Presence Pride Principle Reason Righteous Righteousness Something Whereof Works
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Abraham Actions Boast Declared Fact Glory Ground Held Justified Presence Pride Principle Reason Righteous Righteousness Something Whereof Works
Romans 4
1. Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness;
10. before he was circumcised.
13. By faith only he and his seed received the promise.
16. Abraham is the father of all who believe.
24. Our faith also shall be credited to us as righteousness.














(2) We know that he obtained justification. If that justification had been earned by his own works it would then have been something to be proud of; it would be a pride that he might fairly hold both towards men and towards God; for to men he could point to the privileged position that he had gained, and in the sight of God he would be able to plead a certain merit of his own. But he has not this merit. His justification was not earned, but it was bestowed upon him, not for the sake of his works, but of his faith. This is the express statement of Scripture. And hence it follows that though his privileged position in the sight of men remains, he has nothing to boast of before God.

But not before God.--This is an instance of the rapid and eager dialectic of the Apostle. If the whole train of thought had been given it would probably have run much as above, but the greater part of it is suppressed, and the Apostle strikes straight at the one point which he intended to bring into relief. (Whatever there might be before men) there is no boasting before God.

Verse 2. - For if Abraham was justified by works, be hath whereof to glory; but not before God. Many commentators take this verse to imply that, even if he was justified by works, he still had no ground of glorying before God, though he might have before men. But the drift of the whole argument being to show that he was not justified by works at all, this interpretation can hardly stand. "Not before God" must therefore have reference to the whole of the preceding sentence, in the sense, "It was not so in the sight of God." Before God (as appears from the text to be quoted) he had not whereof to glory on the ground of being justified by works, and therefore it follows that it was not by works that he was justified.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

Abraham
Ἀβραὰμ (Abraam)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 11: Abraham, progenitor of the Hebrew race. Of Hebrew origin; Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch.

was indeed justified
ἐδικαιώθη (edikaiōthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1344: From dikaios; to render just or innocent.

by
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

works,
ἔργων (ergōn)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.

he had
ἔχει (echei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

something to boast about,
καύχημα (kauchēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2745: A boasting; a ground of boasting (glorying, exultation). From kauchaomai; a boast in a good or a bad sense.

but
ἀλλ’ (all’)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

before
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

God.
Θεόν (Theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.


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NT Letters: Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works (Rom. Ro)
Romans 4:1
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