Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The promise wasn't just about Abraham becoming a father; it was about his offspring inheriting the world. Paul emphasizes that this incredible inheritance came not through following rules or rituals, but through a "righteousness of faith" – a right standing with God that comes from simply trusting Him.
Paul is arguing that Abraham's right standing with God, and the promises that followed, weren't earned through keeping the Law. Instead, Abraham's faith itself was credited to him as righteousness, and this is the same path available to all believers, Jewish or Gentile. This sets up the contrast that keeping the Law leads to wrath, not the fulfillment of God's promises.
Abraham was promised an inheritance, but what exactly did 'heir of the world' mean? It was more than just land!
The promise given to Abraham and his 'seed' wasn't merely about possessing the land of Canaan. While that was a tangible sign, its ultimate scope was far grander. Commentators suggest it encompassed the entire world – not just geographically, but as a dominion where Abraham and his descendants, through faith, would be a source of blessing to all nations. In the New Testament understanding, this points to the universal reign of Christ and the participation of believers in that kingdom. It's a promise that stretches from Abraham's time, through Christ, and into the future inheritance of all believers.
Why does Paul emphasize that the promise came through faith's righteousness, not the law? The answer reveals a core of the Gospel.
Paul makes a sharp distinction: the promise to Abraham was not through the law, but through the 'righteousness of faith.' This is crucial because the law, by its nature, reveals sin and brings wrath. It shows us what God requires but gives us no power to fulfill it perfectly. Therefore, relying on law-keeping for a promise from God is a dead end. Faith, on the other hand, is the active trust in God's character and His promises. The 'righteousness of faith' isn't about Abraham's perfect behavior, but his complete reliance on God's word, which God credited to him as righteousness. This unearned standing before God is the only way the promise could be secured for all people, not just a select group.
Understand the original words
epaggelia · Greek Noun
The promise or declaration made by God to Abraham and his descendants regarding the blessing of all nations, fulfilled ultimately in Christ and the New Covenant.
nomos · Greek Noun
The revelation of God’s will, specifically the Mosaic Law, which serves as a moral standard but highlights human inability to attain righteousness by works.
klēronomos · Greek Noun
One who inherits; biblically, this refers to those who share in the divine blessings and the Kingdom of God by virtue of their union with Christ, the true Seed of Abraham.
This verse emphasizes that the grand promise of inheriting the world, made to Abraham and his descendants, was established through his faith long before the Law was given, and continues to be received through faith today.
c. 2091 BC— this verse
God's Promise to Abraham
God establishes a covenant with Abram (later Abraham), promising him numerous descendants and that through him all nations would be blessed. Abraham is to be heir of the world, a promise given based on his faith in God's word.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Mosaic Law
The Law is given to the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai. This event marks a significant legal and religious framework for the nation, distinct from the earlier promise made to Abraham based on faith.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy of Israel
Under Kings David and Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel experiences a period of significant expansion and prosperity, a partial fulfillment of the promise of dominion over the land.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The southern kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, and many of its people are exiled. This period highlights the consequences of unfaithfulness to God and the Law.
This passage directly parallels Abraham's faith being 'counted to him as righteousness' in response to God's promise, emphasizing faith as the basis for his relationship with God and future inheritance.
Galatians 3:16This verse directly links the promise to Abraham and his 'seed' with faith, contrasting it with the law and highlighting how the promise wasn't based on legal observance but on faith in Christ.
Galatians 3:29This passage broadens the understanding of Abraham's 'seed' to include all believers, regardless of their background, who inherit the promise through faith, mirroring Romans 4:13's focus on faith over law for inheritance.
Hebrews 11:8-10This passage highlights Abraham's faith as he obeyed God's call to go to an unknown land, waiting for a heavenly city, which strongly emphasizes his reliance on God's promise and his identity as a sojourner, not one who relied on earthly laws.
Matthew 5:5Jesus's teaching that the 'meek shall inherit the earth' connects to the idea of inheriting the world, and in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, it's understood through spiritual righteousness and reliance on God, not legalistic achievement.
expositorsRomans 4:13: "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."
Chapter 11 ABRAHAM (2) Romans 4:13-25 AGAIN we approach the name of Abraham, Friend of God, Father of the Faithful. We have seen him justified by faith, personally accepted because turning altogether to the sovereign Promiser. We see him now in some of the glorious issues of that acceptance; "Heir of the world," "Father of many nat…
cambridgeRomans 4:13: "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."
13 . For the promise , &c.] Here again the Gr. order is emphatic: For not through the law came the promise, &c . that he should be the heir ] Perhaps better, namely, his being: heir , in apposition with “the promise.” The promise made him heir at once , and foretold actual possession. The Gr. word rendered “heir” sometimes means on…
The promise wasn't just about Abraham becoming a father; it was about his offspring inheriting the world. Paul emphasizes that this incredible inheritance came not through following rules or rituals, but through a "righteousness of faith" – a right standing with God that comes from simply trusting Him.
Paul is arguing that Abraham's right standing with God, and the promises that followed, weren't earned through keeping the Law. Instead, Abraham's faith itself was credited to him as righteousness, and this is the same path available to all believers, Jewish or Gentile. This sets up the contrast that keeping the Law leads to wrath, not the fulfillment of God's promises.
Paul is arguing that Abraham's right standing with God, and the promises that followed, weren't earned through keeping the Law. Instead, Abraham's faith itself was credited to him as righteousness, and this is the same path available to all believers, Jewish or Gentile. This sets up the contrast that keeping the Law leads to wrath, not the fulfillment of God's promises.
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c. 1st Century AD
Jesus' Ministry and Resurrection
Jesus, the descendant of Abraham, teaches about the Kingdom of God and fulfills the promise of blessing to all nations through His death and resurrection.
c. AD 50-60
Paul's Epistle to the Romans
The Apostle Paul writes his letter to the believers in Rome, elaborating on the concept of justification by faith, which is the core theme of Romans chapter 4.
"For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." — The promise wasn't just about Abraham becoming a father; it was about his offspring inheriting the world. Paul emphasizes that this incredible inheritance came not through following rules or ritu…
