Romans 4:16

KJV

Therefore [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,

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore {G1223}{G5124} it is of {G1537} faith {G4102}, that {G2443} it might be by {G2596} grace {G5485}; to the end {G1519} the promise {G1860} might be {G1511} sure {G949} to all {G3956} the seed {G4690}; not {G3756} to that only {G3440} which is of {G1537} the law {G3551}, but {G235} to that also {G2532} which is of {G1537} the faith {G4102} of Abraham {G11}; who {G3739} is {G2076} the father {G3962} of us {G2257} all {G3956},

Complete Jewish Bible

The reason the promise is based on trusting is so that it may come as God’s free gift, a promise that can be relied on by all the seed, not only those who live within the framework of the Torah, but also those with the kind of trust Avraham had — Avraham avinu for all of us.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

American Standard Version

For 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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 4:16 stands as a foundational statement in Paul's exposition on justification, asserting that God's covenant promise to Abraham and his spiritual descendants is secured through faith, not human merit or adherence to the Law. This divinely orchestrated arrangement ensures the promise's unwavering certainty, extending its benefits by grace to all who share Abraham's faith, thereby establishing him as the spiritual progenitor of every believer, regardless of their ethnic or legalistic background.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 4:16 functions as a crucial summary and logical conclusion to Paul's argument in Romans 4, where he systematically demonstrates that Abraham, the patriarch revered by Jews, was justified by faith, not by circumcision or works of the Law. Preceding this verse, Paul cites [Genesis 15:6](/genesis/15-6 "Genesis 15:6 - Abraham's Faith Counted as Righteousness") to prove Abraham's righteousness was credited to him *before* circumcision and the giving of the Mosaic Law. This verse then solidifies the implication: if Abraham was justified by faith, then all his true "seed" (descendants) must also receive the promise through faith, not through legalistic observance, thereby making the promise universally accessible by grace. It sets the stage for Paul's further exploration of the implications of justification by faith in [Romans 5](/romans/5 "Romans 5 - Peace with God Through Faith").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul is writing to a diverse church in Rome, comprising both Jewish and Gentile believers. A significant tension existed between those who believed salvation required adherence to the Mosaic Law (especially circumcision) and those who understood it as a gift received by faith in Christ. For Jewish believers, Abraham was the revered father of their nation, and the Law was central to their identity. Paul's argument in Romans 4 directly challenges the prevailing Jewish understanding that lineage from Abraham or obedience to the Law was the basis for righteousness. By demonstrating that Abraham himself was justified by faith, Paul dismantles the exclusivity of the Law and opens the door for Gentiles to be included in God's covenant family on equal footing through faith. This reinterpretation of Abraham's legacy was revolutionary and essential for the unity and expansion of the early church.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several major theological themes prevalent in Romans and Paul's broader theology. It underscores the **primacy of faith** as the sole means of receiving God's promises, directly contrasting it with works of the Law, a theme central to Paul's argument for [justification by faith](/romans/3-28 "Romans 3:28 - Justification by Faith"). It highlights **God's grace** as the unmerited source of salvation, emphasizing that salvation is a gift, not an achievement, as also articulated in [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith"). The concept of **the surety of God's promise** is vital; by grounding the promise in God's unchangeable grace received by faith, its fulfillment is guaranteed, independent of fallible human performance. Furthermore, the verse redefines **Abraham's "seed"** to include not just physical descendants "of the law" but all who share his faith, thereby establishing the **universal scope of the gospel** and the inclusion of both Jews and Gentiles into one spiritual family, a truth further expounded in [Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Believers are Abraham's Seed").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **faith (Greek, _pístis'_):** From G4102, meaning persuasion, credence, moral conviction, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself. Here, it denotes the active trust and belief in God's promises that is the means by which one receives justification.
* **grace (Greek, _cháris'_):** From G5485, meaning graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude. In this context, it refers to God's unmerited favor and benevolent disposition toward humanity, which is the ultimate source of salvation and the promise.
* **promise (Greek, _epangelía'_):** From G1860, meaning an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good). This refers specifically to God's covenant pledge to Abraham and his descendants, particularly concerning the blessing of righteousness and the inheritance of the world, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace":** This opening clause establishes the dual means and source of justification. "Of faith" (ἐκ πίστεως, _ek písteōs_) signifies the instrumental means by which one apprehends God's righteousness – through trust and belief. "By grace" (κατὰ χάριν, _katá chárin_) points to the divine origin and unmerited nature of this salvation. It is God's free gift, not something earned, received through the channel of faith.
* **"to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed":** This phrase reveals the divine purpose behind the "faith-grace" mechanism. By making the promise dependent on grace and received by faith, God ensures its absolute certainty and reliability ("might be sure," βέβαιος, _bébaios_). Human works are fallible, but God's grace is steadfast. The "seed" (σπέρμα, _spérma_) here refers to Abraham's spiritual descendants, those who are heirs of the promise.
* **"not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham":** This crucial distinction clarifies the scope of the "seed." The promise is not limited to those "of the law" (ἐκ νόμου, _ek nómou_), meaning physical descendants of Abraham who adhere to the Mosaic Law. Instead, it extends to those "of the faith of Abraham" (ἐκ πίστεως Ἀβραάμ, _ek písteōs Abraám_), encompassing all, both Jew and Gentile, who share Abraham's believing trust in God.
* **"who is the father of us all,":** This concluding statement affirms Abraham's universal spiritual fatherhood. He is not merely the father of the Jewish nation by physical descent but the spiritual father of all believers—Jew and Gentile—who walk in the same path of faith that he did. This emphasizes the unity of the church under one spiritual lineage.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several powerful literary devices in Romans 4:16 to drive home his theological point. **Contrast** is prominent, as he explicitly juxtaposes "that which is of the law" with "that which is of the faith of Abraham," highlighting the fundamental difference between human effort and divine grace as the basis for salvation. This contrast underscores the **Exclusivity** of faith as the means and grace as the source. Furthermore, the phrase "father of us all" utilizes a profound **Metaphor**, transforming Abraham from a mere ethnic patriarch into a universal spiritual progenitor, uniting all believers across time and ethnicity into a single family of faith. The repetition of "all the seed" and "us all" serves as a form of **Emphasis**, stressing the expansive and inclusive nature of God's promise.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 4:16 is a theological cornerstone, profoundly shaping Christian understanding of salvation. It firmly establishes that justification is an act of God's unmerited favor (grace), received solely through trust (faith), rather than through human works or adherence to any legal code. This divine design ensures the promise's absolute certainty, as its fulfillment rests on God's character, not on fallible human performance. By extending Abraham's spiritual lineage to "all the seed"—those of faith, not merely those of the law—Paul dismantles ethnic and legalistic barriers, revealing the universal scope of God's redemptive plan and unifying all believers as co-heirs of the promise through Christ.

* [Galatians 3:7](/galatians/3-7 "Galatians 3:7 - Those of Faith are Sons of Abraham")
* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")
* [Titus 3:5](/titus/3-5 "Titus 3:5 - Not by Works of Righteousness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound comfort and assurance to believers. It liberates us from the crushing burden of trying to earn God's favor or secure our salvation through our own efforts, religious rituals, or moral performance. Instead, it directs our gaze entirely to God's boundless grace, received by a simple, trusting faith in Jesus Christ. This truth fosters humility, gratitude, and a deep sense of security, knowing that our standing before God is not precarious but "sure," founded on His unchanging character and gracious provision. Practically, it calls us to embrace a life of dependence on God, extending grace to others as we have received it, and recognizing all fellow believers—regardless of background—as part of the same spiritual family under our shared father, Abraham, united by the common bond of faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding that salvation is "of faith, that it might be by grace" impact your daily walk with God?**
* **In what ways might we still subtly rely on our own "works" or "law-keeping" rather than fully trusting in God's grace?**
* **How does the idea of Abraham being "the father of us all" foster unity and dismantle divisions within the church today?**

### FAQ
**Why does Paul emphasize that the promise is "of faith" and "by grace"?**

Answer: Paul emphasizes this to contrast the divine method of salvation with human attempts to earn it through works of the Law. By stating it is "of faith," he highlights that trust and belief are the instrumental means by which humans receive God's gift. By adding "by grace," he points to God's unmerited favor as the ultimate source and foundation of the promise. This dual emphasis ensures that salvation is entirely God's gift, making it accessible to all who believe, rather than a reward for human performance, which would inherently limit its scope and certainty. This truth is foundational to the gospel message, as seen in [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation is by Grace Through Faith").

**Who are "all the seed" to whom the promise is sure?**

Answer: "All the seed" refers to Abraham's spiritual descendants, not merely his physical or ethnic offspring. Paul clarifies this by distinguishing between "that only which is of the law" (physical Israel under the Mosaic covenant) and "that also which is of the faith of Abraham." Therefore, "all the seed" encompasses everyone—both Jew and Gentile—who shares Abraham's faith, that is, who believes in God's promises and trusts in Him for righteousness. This expansive definition ensures the universal applicability of the gospel, making Abraham the spiritual "father of us all," as further elaborated in [Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Believers are Abraham's Seed").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:16 finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "promise" made to Abraham, which was to be "sure to all the seed," is definitively secured and realized through Christ. He is the singular "seed" of Abraham through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - Christ as the Seed of Abraham")). By His perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and resurrection, Jesus fully satisfied the demands of the Law and perfectly embodied the faith that justifies. Thus, the "grace" by which the promise is given flows directly from His atoning work, and the "faith" by which it is received is faith *in Him*. Through Christ, the promise of righteousness and spiritual inheritance is extended not just to those "of the law" but to all, Jew and Gentile, who believe in Him. He is the bridge that unites all believers into one spiritual family, making Abraham truly "the father of us all" through their shared faith in the one who is Abraham's ultimate heir and the world's Redeemer ([John 8:56-58](/john/8-56-58 "John 8:56-58 - Jesus and Abraham")). Our inclusion in God's family and our inheritance of the promises are entirely dependent on our union with Christ, the true 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

Romans 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:26

To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

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.

Galatians 3:22

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Titus 3:7

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Romans 5:1

¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: