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Lenten Season · Second Sunday in Lent · Year A

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

Abraham's Faith Reckoned as Righteousness

March 1, 2026

Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator
Abraham's Vision: the smoking furnace and the flaming torch, Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminator, 14th centuryMuseum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
The night the covenant was cut: Abraham on his knees, the halved animals laid out, and fire coming down out of a dark cloud. The rubric above reads, in old French, of the sacrifice of Abram after what God had promised him.Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. This is the night Paul is arguing from, not the angels' visit three chapters later.Unknown French/Netherlandish illuminatorA manuscript painter whose name is lost, working in a Bible made to be read aloud.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)Museum Meermanno, The Hague.Museum Meermanno | Huis van het Boek, The Hague, MMW 10 B 23, fol. 22r (CC0)
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJohn 3:1-17Jn 3:1-17 orMatt. 17:1-9Mt 17:1-9
EpistleRom. 4:1-5, 13-17Rom 4:1-5, 13-17
Old TestamentGen. 12:1-4aGn 12:1-4a
PsalterPs. 121Ps 121

Overview & Insights

For the promise to Abraham and his descendants, that he would be heir of the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)

Paul argues that Abraham was counted righteous before he was circumcised and before the law existed, so the promise rests on faith rather than law-keeping. That makes Abraham father of everyone who trusts God the same way, whether Jew or Gentile.

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Take it further: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

Commentary

Commentary on Romans 4:1-5, 13-17Commentary on Rom 4:1-5, 13-17 Working Preacher

Working Preacher's Year A commentary focuses on Paul's theocentric point that the promise runs through God's grace, not Abraham's merit.

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 CommentaryRom 4:1-5, 13-17 Commentary CEP (cepreaching.org)

The Center for Excellence in Preaching highlights the size and diversity of the family created by this promise.

Romans 4 Bible CommentaryRom 4 Bible Commentary Enduring Word

David Guzik's chapter commentary walks through Paul's use of Abraham as proof that righteousness comes by faith apart from works.

Romans 4 ResourcesRom 4 Resources Precept Austin

Precept Austin's Romans 4 resources gather verse-by-verse notes on faith credited as righteousness.

Romans 4 - Barnes' NotesRom 4 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' Notes explains Paul's argument from Genesis about Abraham's faith.

Background & Word Study

Romans 4:1 InterlinearRom 4:1 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek interlinear shows logizomai, reckoned or credited, the accounting term that anchors Paul's argument.

Book of Romans Summary (Part 1)Book of Rom Summary (Part 1) BibleProject

BibleProject's overview of Romans 1-4 traces the argument that leads into Paul's use of Abraham as the pattern for faith.

Church Fathers

Romans 4 CatenaRom 4 Catena Catena

Catena collects patristic reading of Abraham's faith as the pattern for justification.

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