Romans 4:13

KJV

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} the promise {G1860}, that he should be {G1511} the {G846} heir {G2818} of the world {G2889}, was not {G3756} to Abraham {G11}, or {G2228} to his {G846} seed {G4690}, through {G1223} the law {G3551}, but {G235} through {G1223} the righteousness {G1343} of faith {G4102}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the promise to Avraham and his seed that he would inherit the world did not come through legalism but through the righteousness that trust produces.

Berean Standard Bible

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

American Standard Version

For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 4:13 serves as a foundational declaration in Paul's exposition on justification by faith, asserting that God's monumental promise to Abraham—that he would become the heir of the world—was not contingent upon adherence to the Mosaic Law, which had not yet been given, nor upon human works. Instead, this universal inheritance was secured and received through a righteousness that stems from faith, thereby establishing a principle applicable to all, Jew and Gentile alike, who believe.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 4:13 is situated within Paul's profound theological argument in Romans 3-5, where he systematically dismantles the notion of justification by works of the Law and establishes justification by faith as the sole means of salvation. Having concluded in [Romans 3:20-26](/romans/3-20-26 "Romans 3:20-26 - Justification by Faith") that "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight," Paul then turns to Abraham in [Romans 4](/romans/4 "Romans 4 - Abraham Justified by Faith") as the preeminent biblical example. Paul demonstrates that Abraham, the revered patriarch of Israel, was declared righteous not by circumcision or adherence to the Law (which came centuries later), but by his belief, as stated in [Genesis 15:6](/genesis/15-6 "Genesis 15:6 - Abraham Believed God"). Verse 13 specifically elaborates on the nature of the promise made to Abraham and his "seed," clarifying the mechanism of its reception as being "through the righteousness of faith" rather than "through the law," thereby reinforcing the argument against legalism and in favor of grace.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In Paul's time, the Jewish people largely understood their covenant relationship with God and their status as His chosen people to be intrinsically linked to the Mosaic Law. Observance of the Law, including circumcision and dietary regulations, was considered central to their identity and their hope of righteousness. Paul's argument in Romans 4, using Abraham as an example, directly challenges this deeply ingrained perspective. Abraham lived centuries before the Law was given at Mount Sinai ([Exodus 19-20](/exodus/19-20 "Exodus 19-20 - The Giving of the Law")), making it impossible for him to be justified by it. By demonstrating that Abraham's righteousness was credited through faith, Paul strategically undermines the Jewish reliance on the Law as a means of salvation, thereby opening the door for Gentiles to be included in God's covenant people on the same basis of faith. The concept of "heir of the world" also expands the scope of God's promise beyond merely the land of Canaan, hinting at a universal, spiritual inheritance that transcends ethnic and geographical boundaries, a radical idea for many first-century Jews.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans. The primary theme is **Justification by Faith**, emphasizing that a right standing with God is not earned through human effort or adherence to religious codes, but is freely given by God and received through trust in Him. This stands in stark contrast to **Justification by Law**, which Paul explicitly rejects as a path to righteousness, highlighting its inability to provide life or true righteousness ([Romans 8:3](/romans/8-3 "Romans 8:3 - The Law's Weakness")). The verse also develops the theme of **God's Promise and Covenant Faithfulness**, showing that God's promises to Abraham were unconditional and rooted in His character, not in human performance. Furthermore, it expands the understanding of **Abraham's Seed** to include not just physical descendants but all who share Abraham's faith, whether Jew or Gentile, thereby laying the groundwork for the inclusion of the nations into God's family ([Romans 4:16-17](/romans/4-16-17 "Romans 4:16-16 - Abraham, Father of All Believers")). Finally, the concept of **Universal Inheritance** ("heir of the world") broadens the scope of God's redemptive plan beyond Israel to encompass all humanity, foreshadowing the global reach of the Gospel.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Promise (Greek, _epangelía'_):** This term refers to an announcement, specifically a divine assurance of good. In this context, it denotes God's solemn and binding declaration to Abraham, encompassing not only the promise of countless descendants and land but, as Paul interprets it, a universal inheritance. This "promise" is distinct from the Law, being given centuries earlier and based on God's sovereign initiative and grace.
* **Heir (Greek, _klēronómos'_):** Literally meaning "a sharer by lot" or "inheritor," this word signifies one who receives an inheritance. Paul uses it to describe Abraham's destined role not just as a father of a nation, but as a recipient of a global, spiritual inheritance. This inheritance is not earned but is a gift, aligning with the concept of grace.
* **Righteousness (Greek, _dikaiosýnē'_):** This term denotes equity of character or act, and in a Christian theological sense, refers to justification—a state of being declared righteous by God. Paul's emphasis on "the righteousness of faith" highlights that this right standing before God is imputed to believers on the basis of their trust in Him, rather than being achieved through their own moral performance or adherence to the Law.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world":** This clause introduces the subject of Paul's argument: the specific nature and scope of God's promise to Abraham. The "promise" here is not merely the land of Canaan, but a far grander, universal inheritance, implying a spiritual dominion or a share in God's redemptive plan for all humanity. This expansive understanding elevates Abraham's role beyond a national patriarch to a figure of global significance.
* **"[was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law":** This crucial negative assertion directly refutes the idea that the promise was given or secured through the Mosaic Law. Paul emphasizes that the Law came much later than Abraham, making it impossible for his justification or the promise's fulfillment to be dependent on it. This statement serves to dismantle the Jewish reliance on legal obedience as the path to righteousness and inheritance. The phrase "or to his seed" extends this principle to Abraham's descendants, both physical and spiritual, ensuring that the same condition applies to all who claim Abraham as their father.
* **"but through the righteousness of faith":** This positive declaration provides the true means by which the promise was received. The "righteousness of faith" signifies a right standing with God that is not achieved by human effort or merit, but is freely given by God and apprehended through Abraham's belief and trust in God's word. This principle establishes faith, not works of the law, as the singular pathway to receiving God's promises and being declared righteous.

#### Literary Devices
Romans 4:13 employs several effective literary devices to convey its profound theological message. **Antithesis** is central to the verse, starkly contrasting "through the law" with "through the righteousness of faith." This direct opposition highlights the mutually exclusive nature of these two paths to God's promise, underscoring Paul's argument that one cannot be justified by both. The use of **Emphasis** is also evident, particularly through the negative "not" followed by the affirmative "but," which forcefully redirects the reader's understanding from a works-based system to a faith-based one. Furthermore, the phrase "heir of the world" functions as **Hyperbole** or **Metonymy**, expanding the literal promise of land to a figurative, universal spiritual inheritance, thereby signifying the expansive and inclusive nature of God's redemptive plan through Abraham's faith.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 4:13 is a cornerstone of Pauline theology, asserting that the Abrahamic covenant, with its promise of a global inheritance, was established on the principle of faith, not legalistic adherence. This truth profoundly shapes our understanding of God's grace and the universal scope of salvation. By demonstrating that Abraham was justified by faith centuries before the Law, Paul dismantles any notion that human effort or ethnic identity is the basis for a right relationship with God. This verse underscores that God's method of salvation has always been consistent: through faith. It reveals a God who initiates covenant relationships based on His sovereign grace and invites a response of trust, leading to an imputed righteousness that is a gift, not an achievement. This foundational principle ensures that salvation is accessible to all, regardless of their background, provided they respond with faith.

* [Galatians 3:18](/galatians/3-18 "Galatians 3:18 - Inheritance by Promise, Not Law")
* [Romans 3:28](/romans/3-28 "Romans 3:28 - Justification by Faith Apart from Law")
* [Hebrews 11:8](/hebrews/11-8 "Hebrews 11:8 - Abraham's Faith and Obedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 4:13 offers profound comfort and liberation for believers today. It assures us that our standing before God, our hope of eternal life, and our share in God's kingdom are not precarious achievements dependent on our perfect performance of rules or rituals. Instead, they are secure gifts, freely given by God and received through simple, trusting faith in Him. This truth frees us from the exhausting burden of trying to earn God's favor or prove our worthiness. It calls us to rest in the finished work of Christ and the faithfulness of God, just as Abraham did. Our response to this grace should be one of profound gratitude, leading to a life of joyful obedience that flows from love and trust, rather than from a desperate attempt to gain acceptance. It reminds us that the inheritance we receive is not limited to earthly blessings but encompasses a spiritual reality that transcends all boundaries, inviting us to live as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, heirs with Abraham through faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding that Abraham was justified by faith, not law, change your perspective on your own relationship with God?**
* **In what areas of your life might you still be subtly relying on your own efforts or performance to gain God's approval, rather than resting in His grace?**
* **What does it mean for you personally to be an "heir of the world" through faith, and how should this understanding shape your priorities and actions?**
* **How can the truth of justification by faith empower you to live with greater freedom, joy, and confidence in your daily walk?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean for Abraham to be "heir of the world"?**

Answer: The phrase "heir of the world" expands the scope of God's promise to Abraham beyond the literal land of Canaan ([Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - Promise of Land to Abraham")). Paul interprets this promise in a universal, spiritual sense. It signifies that through Abraham's faith, and through his spiritual descendants (both Jews and Gentiles who believe), God's redemptive plan would encompass all nations and ultimately establish a new creation, a spiritual inheritance that transcends geographical boundaries and includes all who are in Christ. It points to a global, spiritual dominion and participation in God's cosmic plan of salvation, culminating in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells ([2 Peter 3:13](/2_peter/3-13 "2 Peter 3:13 - New Heavens and New Earth")).

**Why is it so important that the promise was "not to Abraham... through the law"?**

Answer: This distinction is crucial for Paul's argument about justification by faith. The Mosaic Law was given centuries after Abraham ([Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - The Giving of the Law at Sinai")). If Abraham's righteousness or the promise's fulfillment depended on the Law, then the Law would supersede or invalidate the prior promise, and salvation would be limited to those who could perfectly keep the Law. Paul argues that since Abraham was justified by faith *before* the Law, God's method of salvation is consistent and accessible to all, not just those under the Law. This highlights that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, not an earned reward for legal obedience, thereby opening the door for Gentile inclusion in God's covenant family ([Romans 3:21-22](/romans/3-21-22 "Romans 3:21-22 - Righteousness Through Faith")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:13 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "promise" to Abraham, that he would be the "heir of the world," is realized in Christ, who is the true and ultimate "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - Christ is the Seed of Abraham")). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ has secured the inheritance not just for a nation, but for all who believe in Him, making them co-heirs with Him ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17 - Heirs with Christ")). The "righteousness of faith" that Abraham exemplified is fully and perfectly embodied in Christ, whose righteousness is imputed to all who trust in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Our Sin")). Thus, the universal scope of the promise—Abraham being "heir of the world"—is fulfilled as the Gospel, through Christ, extends to every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, gathering a redeemed humanity from across the globe into God's eternal kingdom ([Revelation 7:9-10](/revelation/7-9-10 "Revelation 7:9-10 - Multitude from Every Nation")). Christ is the means, the content, and the guarantor of this glorious, worldwide inheritance, making all who are "in Christ" true children of Abraham by faith and partakers of the divine promise ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - If You Are Christ's, Then You Are Abraham's Seed")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Galatians 3:29

And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Genesis 22:17

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Genesis 22:18

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Romans 9:8

That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Genesis 28:14

And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Psalms 2:8

Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.

Genesis 17:4

¶ As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.