Paul challenges the common assumption that Abraham's righteousness stemmed from his status or fleshly privileges. The phrase "according to the flesh" here points to accomplishments or advantages derived from human effort or heritage, hinting that Abraham, despite his esteemed position, found righteousness not by these means, but by something deeper. This sets up the core argument: Abraham's "gain" wasn't about what he did or was by birth, but about what he believed.
What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul now addresses the deeply ingrained Jewish pride in Abraham as their forefather. He asks what Abraham, their ancestor "according to the flesh," actually "found" or gained, setting the stage to challenge the idea that Abraham's status or any physical rites like circumcision were the basis of his standing with God. The Apostle wants to show that Abraham, like everyone else, was saved by faith, not by works or lineage.
The Jews took immense pride in Abraham, their ancestor. Paul uses this very pride to dismantle their faulty understanding of how righteousness works.
Paul begins Romans 4 by posing a direct question: "What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?" This isn't just a rhetorical question. It's the setup for a profound argument.
Paul pivots on the meaning of 'according to the flesh.' Was Abraham's gain something he achieved through his own efforts, or something he received by grace?
The phrase "according to the flesh" is key here. Paul uses it to contrast what Abraham gained through his own human effort, lineage, or ritual actions (like circumcision) with what he gained through faith.
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Understand the original words
sarx · Greek Noun
A term referring to the biological or ancestral line of a people group; in the NT, it often distinguishes physical descent from spiritual status.
dikaioō · Greek Verb
To be declared righteous or vindicated in the sight of God; a legal verdict of 'not guilty' based on the righteousness of Christ received through faith.
ergon · Greek Noun
Human actions or deeds performed to merit favor or standing before God, which the New Testament contrasts sharply with the reception of grace through faith.
kauchēma · Greek Noun
An expression of human pride or self-congratulation based on personal achievement; in a biblical context, it is excluded where salvation is entirely a work of God's grace.
graphē · Greek Noun
The holy, inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments that serve as the authoritative standard for faith and practice.
pisteuō · Greek Verb
To trust, rely upon, or commit oneself entirely to God and His promises; it is the instrument through which one receives justification.
logizomai · Greek Verb
A legal or accounting term denoting that something is credited to one's account; used theologically to describe the imputation of righteousness to the believer.
dikaiosynē · Greek Noun
The state of moral rectitude and conformity to God's standard; it is the gift of God bestowed upon believers through faith.
Paul uses Abraham, the revered father of the Jewish people and recipient of circumcision, to argue that righteousness comes through faith alone, not by physical descent or ritual observance.
c. 2000 BC— this verse
Abraham's Call and Covenant
God calls Abraham from Ur and makes a covenant with him, promising countless descendants and blessings, initiating his journey of faith.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham's Faith Reckoned as Righteousness
Abraham believes God's promise concerning descendants, and this faith is counted to him as righteousness, documented in Genesis 15.
c. 1990 BC
Circumcision Instituted
God institutes circumcision as a sign of the covenant with Abraham, occurring when Abraham is ninety-nine years old, years after his righteousness was reckoned by faith.
c. 1800 BC
Patriarchal Period
The period following Abraham, including his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, further developing the covenant promises and the lineage.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt, a foundational event for Jewish identity and law, establishing their distinct nationhood.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God gives the Mosaic Law to the Israelites, including detailed commandments and ceremonial requirements, forming the basis of their religious and social structure.
This is the foundational verse that Paul directly quotes to establish Abraham's justification by faith, stating 'Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.' It shows that Abraham's faith, not his deeds, was the basis of his standing with God.
Galatians 3:6This passage echoes Genesis 15:6, reinforcing the idea that Abraham's faith was the key to his righteousness. It directly supports Paul's argument that justification comes through faith, not through adherence to the law.
Romans 4:13This verse clarifies that Abraham's inheritance of the world was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. It directly counters any idea that Abraham, or anyone else, could earn God's promises through legalistic observance.
Isaiah 41:8This verse calls Abraham 'my friend,' highlighting a unique relationship with God that transcends mere adherence to rules. This personal relationship underscores the idea that God's favor is based on something deeper than external performance, aligning with faith as the connecting principle.
James 2:23James quotes Genesis 15:6 similarly to Paul, stating 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' This shows a shared understanding between the apostles that Abraham's faith was central, even as they address different facets of its outworking.
expositorsRomans 4:1: "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?"
Chapter 10 ABRAHAM AND DAVID Romans 4:1-12 THE Jewish disputant is present still to the Apostle’s thought. It could not be otherwise in this argument. No question was more pressing on the Jewish mind than that of Acceptance; thus far, truly, the teaching and discipline of the Old Testament had not been in vain. And St. Paul had not only, in his Christian Apostleship, debated that problem countl…
bensonRomans 4:1: "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?"
Romans 4:1-2 . What shall we say then — The apostle, in the preceding chapter, having shown the impossibility of man’s being justified by the merit of his obedience to any law, moral or ceremonial, or any otherwise than by grace through faith, judged it necessary, for the sake of the Jews, to consider the case of Abraham, on being whose progeny, and on whose merits, the Jews placed great depend…
Paul challenges the common assumption that Abraham's righteousness stemmed from his status or fleshly privileges. The phrase "according to the flesh" here points to accomplishments or advantages derived from human effort or heritage, hinting that Abraham, despite his esteemed position, found righteousness not by these means, but by something deeper. This sets up the core argument: Abraham's "gain" wasn't about what he did or was by birth, but about what he believed.
Paul now addresses the deeply ingrained Jewish pride in Abraham as their forefather. He asks what Abraham, their ancestor "according to the flesh," actually "found" or gained, setting the stage to challenge the idea that Abraham's status or any physical rites like circumcision were the basis of his standing with God. The Apostle wants to show that Abraham, like everyone else, was saved by faith, not by works or lineage.
Paul now addresses the deeply ingrained Jewish pride in Abraham as their forefather. He asks what Abraham, their ancestor "according to the flesh," actually "found" or gained, setting the stage to challenge the idea that Abraham's status or any physical rites like circumcision were the basis of his standing with God. The Apostle wants to show that Abraham, like everyone else, was saved by faith, not by works or lineage.
"What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it…" — Paul challenges the common assumption that Abraham's righteousness stemmed from his status or fleshly privileges. The phrase "according to the flesh" here points to accomplishments or advantages deri…
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Last reviewed October 2026
