Romans 4:22

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

And {G2532} therefore {G1352} it was imputed {G3049} to him {G846} for {G1519} righteousness {G1343}.

This is why it was credited to his account as righteousness.

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

Romans 4:22 is a pivotal verse in Paul's argument about justification by faith, using Abraham as the prime example.

Context

This verse concludes a passage (Romans 4:18-21) detailing Abraham's extraordinary faith. Despite his age and Sarah's barrenness, Abraham believed God's promise that he would become the father of many nations. He did not waver but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. Verse 22 summarizes the result of this unwavering faith.

Key Themes

  • Imputed Righteousness: The central theme is that God "imputed" or credited righteousness to Abraham not because of his works or perfect obedience, but because of his faith. This concept is foundational to the doctrine of justification by faith.
  • Faith as the Basis: The verse explicitly states that "it" (his faith) was the basis upon which righteousness was imputed. This directly contrasts with seeking righteousness through the law or human effort.
  • Abraham's Example: Abraham serves as the prototype for all who would later be justified by faith, whether Jew or Gentile, demonstrating that salvation has always been by grace received through faith.

Linguistic Insights

The word translated "imputed" (KJV) or "credited" (many modern translations) is the Greek verb elogisthē (from logizomai). It's an accounting term meaning to reckon, count, or put to someone's account. It signifies that righteousness was not inherent in Abraham's faith itself as a work, but God graciously put righteousness *to his account* because of his faith. This same word is used elsewhere to describe how Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers.

Reflection

Romans 4:22 offers immense comfort and clarity to believers today. It assures us that our standing before God is not based on our ability to perfectly keep His law, but on God's gracious act of crediting Christ's perfect righteousness to us when we place our faith in Him. Just as Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness, so is ours. This truth should lead to humility, gratitude, and confidence in our relationship with God, knowing we are accepted based on Christ's merit, received through faith.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 4:3

    For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

  • Romans 4:6

    Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
← Back