What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?
Parallel translations
- WEB What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
- KJV What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
- NKJV What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?
- NASB What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
- NLT Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God?
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
Paul appeals to Abraham as a test case for justification. What Abraham discovered will settle the question of how anyone is made right with God.
Overview
Turning to Israel's revered forefather, Paul asks what Abraham gained 'according to the flesh,' that is, by human effort. Abraham is the decisive example because if even he was not justified by works, no one is. This opening question launches a chapter showing that Abraham was justified by faith, long before the law was given.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Isa 51:2Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.
- Rom 4:16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
- John 8:56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”
- 2 Cor 11:22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
- Acts 13:26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
- Matt 3:9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
- Rom 7:7What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
- Luke 3:8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
- John 8:53Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”
- Luke 16:29–31But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’
- John 8:37–41I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you.
- John 8:33“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
- Luke 16:24–25So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
- Rom 8:31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Rom 6:1What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?
- Heb 12:9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
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 4:1 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.