For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
- NASB For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
- NLT Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God's promise that Abraham would inherit the world came through the righteousness of faith, not the law. The inheritance is granted to faith.
Overview
Paul argues that the great promise to Abraham and his offspring was secured 'through the righteousness of faith,' not through law-keeping, which came centuries later. The promised inheritance, ultimately fulfilled in Christ and his people, belongs to those who believe. This keeps the basis of salvation firmly on grace received by faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Gal 3:29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
- Gen 28:14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
- Gen 22:17–18I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.
- Rom 9:8So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.
- Ps 2:8Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
- Gen 17:4–6“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
- Gal 3:16–18The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Gen 17:16And I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will descend from her.”
- Gen 12:3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
- Gen 49:10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
- Ps 72:11May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 4:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.