who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Christ's resurrection wasn't just a prelude to our justification, but the very reason for it, signifying that His sacrifice was accepted and our slate wiped clean before God. It's not just about His rising proving He could justify us, but that He was justified in His resurrection because our sins were fully paid for by His death.
who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is arguing that Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness, demonstrating that salvation comes by faith, not by works. He emphasizes that this promise isn't just for Abraham but for all who believe, Jews and Gentiles alike. This leads directly into summarizing the core of the gospel: Jesus' death for our sins and His resurrection for our justification.
Jesus' death wasn't a cosmic accident or a noble sacrifice. It was a purposeful act that dealt with something foundational: our sins.
The phrase 'delivered up for our trespasses' points to the substitutionary nature of Christ's death. Think of it like this: our sins created a debt that we could never repay. God, in His justice, required that debt to be paid. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, stepped in as our representative and paid that debt for us. His 'delivery' was a surrender to death, not because of any wrongdoing on His part, but as a direct consequence of our offenses. It highlights that His death was the divine solution to the problem of human sin.
Jesus' resurrection isn't just a happy ending; it's the powerful declaration that His sacrifice was accepted and the foundation for our standing with God.
The second half of the verse, 'raised for our justification,' reveals the significance of the resurrection. It wasn't merely a demonstration that Jesus could conquer death. His resurrection served as God's official stamp of approval on the atoning work of the cross. It proved that the penalty for our sins had been fully paid and accepted. Therefore, His rising means that the justification—our being declared righteous before God—is complete and guaranteed for all who believe. It signifies that we are 'acquitted' in Him, freed from condemnation.
Understand the original words
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paredothē · Greek Verb
To be given over, handed off, or betrayed; used specifically of Christ being surrendered to death by the Father and men to accomplish the atonement.
paraptōmata · Greek Noun
A transgression or violation of God's law; a specific act of disobedience that separates humanity from a holy God and requires atonement.
dikaiōsin · Greek Noun
The judicial act of God whereby He declares a person righteous, not because they are sinless, but because Christ's righteousness has been legally credited to them.
Paul grounds the concept of justification by faith in the historical reality of Christ's death and resurrection, emphasizing that these events were not abstract ideas but decisive acts that secured our salvation.
c. 700 BC
Isaiah Prophesies Messiah's Suffering
The prophet Isaiah foretells a suffering servant who would bear the iniquities of many and be numbered among transgressors, laying the groundwork for understanding the Messiah's sacrificial death.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus Christ is crucified, fulfilling prophecies and acting as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, as described in the Gospels.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Resurrection
Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day, validating His claims and demonstrating His victory over sin and death.
c. AD 48-49
Council of Jerusalem
The early church leaders affirm that salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not adherence to the Mosaic Law, a decision crucial for Gentile inclusion and the development of Pauline theology.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
During his ministry in Corinth, Paul writes Romans, likely his most systematic theological work, to explain the gospel and its implications for both Jews and Gentiles.
This passage directly links the resurrection of Christ to our justification, stating 'if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins,' highlighting how the resurrection is proof of atonement and the basis for our standing before God.
Isaiah 53:5-6This prophecy of the Suffering Servant describes his suffering and death being 'for our transgressions' and 'for our iniquities,' paralleling the 'delivered up for our trespasses' aspect of Romans 4:25 and showing the Old Testament foundation for Christ's sacrificial death.
Romans 1:3-4This passage speaks of Jesus being 'descended from David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead,' underscoring how the resurrection powerfully vindicated Christ and confirmed His divine work for us.
Hebrews 9:28This verse states Christ was 'once for all time offered to bear the sins of many,' which directly connects to the idea in Romans 4:25 that Christ's death was 'for our offenses,' emphasizing His singular, atoning sacrifice.
1 Peter 1:3Peter calls God 'blessed... who according to his great mercy has regenerated us to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,' linking the resurrection to a new, living hope that is foundational to our regenerated life and standing.
cambridgeRomans 4:25: "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
25 . delivered ] As the Victim. Cp. Romans 8:32 . Here the Father delivers up His Son. In Galatians 2:20 ; Ephesians 5:2 , &c.; we have the self-surrender of the Son. See Psalm 40:8-9 , for the union of the two truths. “Lo, I come; … I delight to do Thy will .” for our offences ] Lit. because of our offences ; “because we had offended.” Such is the natural meaning of the Gr. The fact of our sins deman…
henryRomans 4:23-25: "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;"
4:23-25 The history of Abraham, and of his justification, was recorded to teach men of after-ages; those especially to whom the gospel was then made known. It is plain, that we are not justified by the merit of our own works, but by faith in Jesus Christ and his righteousness; which is the truth urged in this and the foregoing chapter, as the great spring and foundation of all comfort. Christ did meritoriou…
The verse highlights that Christ's resurrection wasn't just a prelude to our justification, but the very reason for it, signifying that His sacrifice was accepted and our slate wiped clean before God. It's not just about His rising proving He could justify us, but that He was justified in His resurrection because our sins were fully paid for by His death.
Paul is arguing that Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness, demonstrating that salvation comes by faith, not by works. He emphasizes that this promise isn't just for Abraham but for all who believe, Jews and Gentiles alike. This leads directly into summarizing the core of the gospel: Jesus' death for our sins and His resurrection for our justification.
Paul is arguing that Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness, demonstrating that salvation comes by faith, not by works. He emphasizes that this promise isn't just for Abraham but for all who believe, Jews and Gentiles alike. This leads directly into summarizing the core of the gospel: Jesus' death for our sins and His resurrection for our justification.
"who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." — The verse highlights that Christ's resurrection wasn't just a prelude to our justification, but the very reason for it, signifying that His sacrifice was accepted and our slate wiped clean before G…
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Last reviewed October 2026