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Lenten Season · Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary · Year C

Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

Abraham Justified by Faith

March 20, 2028

Abraham Entertaining the Angels, Rembrandt van Rijn
Abraham Entertaining the Angels, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1646Private collection
Three visitors at a meal under a tree, with Sarah listening at the door behind. Rembrandt keeps the scene domestic and lets one guest's face do all the work.Paul takes Abraham as the pattern of faith, and this is the afternoon that faith was asked for: a promise made over lunch.Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt (1606-1669) painted scripture as if it had happened in a room he had been in, and returned to the same stories across forty years, changing his mind about them in public.Private collectionIn private hands, which is why it is seen in reproduction far more often than in the flesh.Private collection
Roman Lectionary
GospelMt. 1:16, 18-21, 24aMt 1:16, 18-21, 24a orLuke 2:41-51aLk 2:41-51a
Second ReadingRom. 4:13, 16-18, 22Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22
First Reading2 Sam. 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 162 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Responsorial PsalmPs. 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29

Overview & Insights

“In hope he believed against hope… fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:18, 21)

The general context of Romans 4 is that it continues the discussion of 3:27–31: the latter states that justification is by faith, while the former illustrates that principle from the life of Abraham. We may correlate these two passages in this way: 1. Justification is by faith (3:27–28; 4:1–8) 2. Justification by faith is for Jews and Gentiles (3:29–30; 4:9–17) More specifically, Romans 4:1–8 unfolds the first two of Paul’s arguments that Abraham was accepted by God by faith: 1. Theological argument (4:1–5) a. Negatively, Abraham had no merit before God (4:1–2) b. Positively, Abraham was reckoned righteous by God’s grace (4:3–5) 2. Hermeneutical argument—gezerah shawah (4:6–8) a. Genesis 15:6 (4:6 [cf. 4:3, 5]) b. Psalm 32:1–2 (4:7–8)

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Take it further: Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

Commentary

Romans 4 - Enduring Word CommentaryRom 4 - Enduring Word Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Guzik's commentary on Abraham's faith credited as righteousness.

Romans 4:13 CommentariesRom 4:13 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries on the promise coming through faith, not the law.

Romans 4:13-25 CommentaryRom 4:13-25 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-by-verse study of Romans 4:13-25 with word studies on hoping against hope.

Commentary on Romans 4:13-25Commentary on Rom 4:13-25 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on this exact Romans 4:13-25 pericope, read in Lent.

Romans 4 (Barnes' Notes)Rom 4 (Barnes' Notes) StudyLight

Barnes' Notes on Romans 4, aggregated on StudyLight.

Background & Word Study

Romans 4 InterlinearRom 4 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text and parsing for Paul's argument about faith and the promise.

Romans 1-4Rom 1-4 BibleProject

Video walkthrough of Romans 1-4, covering Paul's case for justification by faith.

The Church Fathers

Romans 4 CatenaRom 4 Catena Catena

Patristic comments on Romans 4 collected verse by verse.

Questions preachers ask

How is Abraham the father of faith?

Against all hope Abraham trusted God's promise, and it was counted to him as righteousness; the same faith is reckoned to us who believe in the God who raised Jesus.

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