Romans 4:4

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} to him that worketh {G2038} is {G3049} the reward {G3408} not {G3756} reckoned {G3049} of {G2596} grace {G5485}, but {G235} of {G2596} debt {G3783}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now the account of someone who is working is credited not on the ground of grace but on the ground of what is owed him.

Berean Standard Bible

Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 4:4 presents a foundational principle in Paul's argument for justification by faith, asserting that a reward given for work is a matter of obligation, not a gift of unmerited favor. This verse sharply contrasts human effort with divine grace, establishing that if righteousness were earned through deeds, it would be a wage owed, thereby precluding it from being a free gift. It sets the stage for understanding how Abraham's righteousness was credited to him by faith, highlighting the essential difference between a system of merit and God's gracious provision of salvation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 4:4 is situated within Paul's extensive theological exposition on justification by faith, which begins in [Romans 3](/romans/3 "Romans 3 - Righteousness Through Faith"). Following his declaration that all, both Jews and Gentiles, are under the power of sin and cannot be justified by works of the law ([Romans 3:9-20](/romans/3-9-20 "Romans 3:9-20 - All Under Sin")), Paul introduces God's righteousness revealed through faith in Jesus Christ ([Romans 3:21-26](/romans/3-21-26 "Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness Through Faith")). Chapter 4 then serves as a crucial Old Testament proof-text, using Abraham and David as prime examples to demonstrate that righteousness has always been reckoned by faith apart from works. Verse 4 specifically articulates the logical consequence of a works-based system, setting up the contrast with God's method of reckoning righteousness as a gift of grace, as seen in Abraham's experience in [Romans 4:1-3](/romans/4-1-3 "Romans 4:1-3 - Abraham Justified by Faith").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the Greco-Roman world, and particularly within Jewish thought of Paul's time, the concept of earning one's standing or reward through diligent work and adherence to established laws or traditions was deeply ingrained. For many Jews, righteousness was inextricably linked to obedience to the Mosaic Law, including circumcision and dietary laws. They believed that by performing the commandments, they accumulated merit before God, thereby earning their salvation or a favorable standing. Paul's argument directly challenges this prevailing understanding, drawing on the Jewish scriptures themselves to redefine the basis of a right relationship with God. The legal and economic metaphors of "debt," "reward," and "reckoned" would have been readily understood by his audience, making his theological point about grace versus works powerfully clear.
* **Key Themes:** This verse is pivotal in developing several key themes in Romans. Foremost is the **contrast between works and grace** as the basis for justification. Paul meticulously dismantles the idea that human effort can earn divine favor, asserting that if it could, it would transform grace into a mere transaction of debt. This leads directly to the theme of **justification by faith alone**, which is the central thesis of [Romans](/romans "The Book of Romans"). By demonstrating that Abraham was justified not by his actions but by his belief ([Romans 4:3](/romans/4-3 "Romans 4:3 - Abraham Believed God")), Paul underscores that God's righteousness is a gift freely given, not a wage earned. The verse also implicitly touches upon the theme of **God's sovereignty and generosity**, as He is the one who graciously bestows righteousness, rather than being compelled to reward human performance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **worketh (Greek, _ergázomai'_):** This word signifies to toil, labor, or perform a task, implying an activity undertaken to achieve a specific outcome or earn a wage. In the context of Romans 4:4, it refers to human effort or deeds performed with the expectation of earning a reward or merit from God. Paul uses it to describe a system where one's actions create an obligation for payment.
* **reckoned (Greek, _logízomai'_):** An accounting term meaning to compute, calculate, or credit something to an account. Paul uses this word throughout [Romans 4](/romans/4 "Romans 4 - Justification by Faith") to describe how God attributes righteousness. Here, it denotes the act of God formally assigning a status or reward. The critical distinction Paul makes is *how* God reckons: either as a debt owed for work or as a gift of grace.
* **grace (Greek, _cháris'_):** This term denotes unmerited favor, a gift given freely without any expectation of return or prior deserving. It emphasizes the benevolent and gratuitous nature of God's action. In this verse, it stands in direct opposition to "debt," highlighting that salvation, when given by grace, cannot simultaneously be a payment for work.
* **debt (Greek, _opheílēma'_):** This word refers to something owed, an obligation, or a payment that is due. It carries the connotation of a contractual agreement where work performed necessitates a corresponding payment. Paul uses it to illustrate that if righteousness were earned through works, God would be obligated to grant it, thereby stripping it of its character as a free and undeserved gift.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now to him that worketh":** This phrase introduces the hypothetical scenario of someone performing labor or deeds. It sets up the premise that if a person engages in work, there is a natural and expected consequence: a reward. This "working" refers to human effort, particularly in the context of seeking to earn divine favor or righteousness through obedience to the law or good deeds.
* **"is the reward not reckoned of grace":** This is the core assertion of the verse. Paul states that when a reward is given for work, it is fundamentally *not* considered a matter of grace. "Reckoned" (or "credited") here implies a formal accounting. If something is earned, it cannot simultaneously be a gift of unmerited favor. The nature of the transaction changes from a gracious bestowal to a deserved payment.
* **"but of debt":** This clause completes the antithesis. If a reward is not of grace when work is involved, then it must be "of debt." This means the reward is an obligation, something that is owed to the worker as a just payment for their labor. Paul uses this to highlight that a system based on works places God in the position of an employer who owes wages, rather than a sovereign giver of unmerited favor.

#### Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs **Antithesis** in Romans 4:4, creating a stark contrast between two mutually exclusive concepts: "grace" and "debt." By juxtaposing "not reckoned of grace, but of debt," he underscores that a reward for work cannot simultaneously be a gift; it must be an obligation. This rhetorical device powerfully clarifies his theological point that justification cannot be earned. Furthermore, the verse uses a **Metaphor** drawn from the world of commerce and accounting. The terms "worketh," "reward," "reckoned," and "debt" evoke the familiar transaction of an employer paying an employee. This commercial metaphor helps the reader understand the nature of the relationship Paul is describing: if salvation were based on human performance, it would be a contractual obligation, not a free act of divine benevolence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 4:4 is a cornerstone for understanding the New Testament's doctrine of justification by grace through faith. It unequivocally states that any "reward" for human effort is a matter of obligation, not a gift. This principle directly challenges any system of salvation based on merit, legalistic adherence, or human performance. It underscores that if our standing with God were earned, it would strip God's act of its gracious character and place Him in our debt. Instead, Paul argues that God's righteousness is freely imputed to those who believe, not as a wage for work, but as an unmerited gift, thereby glorifying God's boundless grace and sovereignty in salvation.

* [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")
* [Galatians 2:16](/galatians/2-16 "Galatians 2:16 - Justification by Faith in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a crucial reminder of the true nature of our salvation and our relationship with God. In a world that often values achievement, merit, and earning one's way, Romans 4:4 stands as a profound counter-cultural truth. It shatters any illusion that we can earn God's favor or merit eternal life through our good deeds, religious observances, or moral uprightness. If we could earn it, salvation would be a wage, and God would be obligated to us. But because it is a gift of grace, it is entirely unmerited and freely given, received solely through faith. This truth should humble us deeply, stripping away any pride in our own efforts and replacing it with profound gratitude for God's lavish, undeserved love. It liberates us from the burden of performance-based religion, allowing us to rest in the finished work of Christ and live lives of joyful obedience, not out of a desire to earn, but out of a heart transformed by grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you still be subtly trying to earn God's favor or approval?**
* **How does understanding salvation as a gift of grace, rather than a debt owed, transform your view of God and your relationship with Him?**
* **What practical implications does this verse have for how you approach Christian service, spiritual disciplines, or evangelism?**

### FAQ
**What does "reckoned of grace, but of debt" mean in simple terms?**

Answer: In simple terms, this verse explains that there are two fundamentally different ways to receive something. If you work for something, like a job, the payment you receive is a "debt" owed to you; you've earned it, and your employer is obligated to pay you. This is not a gift. However, if something is given to you freely, without you having earned it, that's "grace." Paul is arguing that our standing with God (our righteousness) is not like a wage we've earned through our "work" or good deeds. If it were, God would owe it to us, and it wouldn't be a gift. Instead, our righteousness is given to us purely by God's "grace," meaning it's a free, unmerited gift, not something we've earned or that God owes us. This idea is central to the concept of justification by faith, as seen in [Romans 3:24](/romans/3-24 "Romans 3:24 - Justified Freely by Grace").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:4 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies and secures the "grace" that Paul contrasts with "debt." Because humanity is utterly incapable of performing enough "work" to earn righteousness or place God in "debt" to provide salvation, God Himself, in His infinite grace, provided the solution through His Son. Jesus did not come to earn a reward for Himself, but to perfectly fulfill the law and offer Himself as the spotless Lamb, taking upon Himself the "debt" of our sin. His obedience, sacrifice, and resurrection are the basis upon which God can "reckon" righteousness to believers, not as something we've earned, but as a free gift of divine favor. This is the profound truth that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). Therefore, the "reward" of eternal life and a right standing with God is not a wage we earned, but a glorious inheritance bestowed upon us solely through faith in Christ's finished work ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Gift of God is Eternal Life")). His death paid our "debt," and His life offers us "grace" beyond measure, making God's unmerited favor the sole foundation of our salvation ([Ephesians 1:7](/ephesians/1-7 "Ephesians 1:7 - Redemption Through His Blood")).

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 11:6

And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Romans 9:32

Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Matthew 20:1

¶ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:16

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Romans 11:35

Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?