1 So|strong="G3767" what|strong="G5101" can|strong="G3004" we|strong="G2249" say|strong="G3004" about|strong="G2596" Abraham|strong="G0011", the|strong="G3588" father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G3962" our|strong="G0011" people|strong="G4561"? What|strong="G5101" did|strong="G2147" he|strong="G3004" learn about|strong="G2596" faith?
2 If|strong="G1487" Abraham|strong="G0011" was|strong="G2316" made right by|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2192" things|strong="G1487" he|strong="G1487" did|strong="G2192", he|strong="G1487" had|strong="G2192" a|strong="G2192" reason|strong="G2745" to|strong="G4314" boast|strong="G2745" about|strong="G4314" himself. But|strong="G0235" God|strong="G2316" knew different.
3 That’s why|strong="G5101" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures|strong="G1124" say|strong="G3004", “Abraham|strong="G0011" believed|strong="G4100" God|strong="G2316", and|strong="G2532" because|strong="G1063" of|strong="G2316" this|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" accepted as|strong="G1519" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G2316" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316".”
4 When|strong="G1161" people|strong="G3588" work|strong="G2038", their|strong="G2596" pay|strong="G3408" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" given to|strong="G2596" them|strong="G2596" as|strong="G2596" a|strong="G1161" gift|strong="G5485". They|strong="G1161" earn the|strong="G3588" pay|strong="G3408" they|strong="G1161" get.
5 But|strong="G1161" people|strong="G0846" cannot|strong="G3361" do|strong="G4100" any|strong="G1909" work|strong="G2038" that|strong="G4100" will|strong="G0846" make|strong="G3361" them|strong="G0846" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1909" God|strong="G0846". So|strong="G1161" they|strong="G0846" must|strong="G3588" trust in|strong="G1519" him|strong="G0846". Then|strong="G1161" he|strong="G0846" accepts their|strong="G0846" faith|strong="G4102", and|strong="G1161" that|strong="G4100" makes them|strong="G0846" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1909" him|strong="G0846". He|strong="G0846" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" makes even|strong="G1161" evil people|strong="G0846" right|strong="G1519".
6 David|strong="G1138" said|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3739" thing|strong="G3739" when|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3739" talking|strong="G3004" about|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" blessing|strong="G3108" people|strong="G0444" have|strong="G2532" when|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" accepts them|strong="G3739" as|strong="G2509" good without|strong="G5565" looking at|strong="G2316" what|strong="G3739" they|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2532" done|strong="G2041":
7 “It|strong="G3739" is|strong="G3739" a|strong="G3739" great blessing
8 It|strong="G3739" is|strong="G3739" a|strong="G3739" great|strong="G3756" blessing when|strong="G3739" the|strong="G3739" Lord|strong="G2962" accepts people|strong="G0435"
9 Is|strong="G3778" this|strong="G3778" blessing|strong="G3108" only|strong="G2532" for|strong="G1063" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3778" circumcised|strong="G4061"? Or|strong="G2228" is|strong="G3778" it|strong="G3778" also|strong="G2532" for|strong="G1063" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3778" not|strong="G2532" circumcised|strong="G4061"? We|strong="G3778" have|strong="G2532" already said|strong="G3004" that|strong="G3004" it|strong="G3778" was|strong="G3588" because|strong="G1063" of|strong="G1909" Abraham’s|strong="G0011" faith|strong="G4102" that|strong="G3004" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" accepted as|strong="G1519" one|strong="G3778" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3778" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1909" God|strong="G3004".
10 So|strong="G3767" how|strong="G4459" did|strong="G1510" this happen|strong="G1510"? Did|strong="G1510" God accept Abraham before|strong="G1722" or|strong="G2228" after|strong="G3767" he|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" circumcised|strong="G4061"? God accepted him|strong="G1722" before|strong="G1722" his|strong="G2228" circumcision|strong="G4061".
11 Abraham|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" circumcised|strong="G4061" later to|strong="G1519" show|strong="G2983" that|strong="G4100" God|strong="G0846" accepted|strong="G2983" him|strong="G0846". His|strong="G0846" circumcision|strong="G4061" was|strong="G1510" proof|strong="G4102" that|strong="G4100" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1722" God|strong="G0846" through|strong="G1223" faith|strong="G4102" before|strong="G1722" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" circumcised|strong="G4061". So|strong="G2532" Abraham|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G1223" all|strong="G3956" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" believe|strong="G4100" but|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" circumcised|strong="G4061". They|strong="G0846" believe|strong="G4100" and|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" accepted|strong="G2983" as|strong="G1519" people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1722" God|strong="G0846".
12 And|strong="G2532" Abraham|strong="G0011" is|strong="G3588" also|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G1537" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" circumcised|strong="G4061". But|strong="G0235" it|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" their|strong="G2532" circumcision|strong="G4061" that|strong="G1722" makes him|strong="G2532" their|strong="G2532" father|strong="G3962". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" their|strong="G2532" father|strong="G3962" only|strong="G3440" if|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" live following|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102" that|strong="G1722" our|strong="G2532" father|strong="G3962" Abraham|strong="G0011" had|strong="G3588" before|strong="G1722" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" circumcised|strong="G4061".
13 Abraham|strong="G0011" and|strong="G4102" his|strong="G0846" descendants|strong="G4690" received the|strong="G3588" promise|strong="G1860" that|strong="G0846" they|strong="G0846" would|strong="G0846" get the|strong="G3588" whole world|strong="G2889". But|strong="G0235" Abraham|strong="G0011" did|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" receive that|strong="G0846" promise|strong="G1860" because|strong="G1223" he|strong="G0846" followed the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551". He|strong="G0846" received that|strong="G0846" promise|strong="G1860" because|strong="G1223" he|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" right|strong="G1343" with|strong="G1223" God|strong="G0846" through|strong="G1223" his|strong="G0846" faith|strong="G4102".
14 If|strong="G1487" people|strong="G3588" could get God’s promise|strong="G1860" by|strong="G1537" following the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551", then|strong="G2532" faith|strong="G4102" is|strong="G3588" worthless. And|strong="G2532" God’s promise|strong="G1860" to|strong="G2532" Abraham is|strong="G3588" worthless,
15 because|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" can only|strong="G3756" bring God’s anger|strong="G3709" on|strong="G1161" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" disobey it|strong="G1161". But|strong="G1161" if there|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" no|strong="G3756" law|strong="G3551", then|strong="G1161" there|strong="G1510" is|strong="G1510" nothing|strong="G3756" to|strong="G1510" disobey.
16 So|strong="G2443" people|strong="G3956" get what|strong="G3739" God|strong="G3962" promised|strong="G1860" by|strong="G1223" having faith|strong="G4102". This|strong="G3778" happens so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G3739" the|strong="G3956" promise|strong="G1860" can be|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" free gift|strong="G5485". And|strong="G2532" if|strong="G2443" the|strong="G3956" promise|strong="G1860" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" free gift|strong="G5485", then|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G1537" Abraham’s|strong="G0011" people|strong="G3956" will|strong="G1510" get that|strong="G3739" promise|strong="G1860". The|strong="G3956" promise|strong="G1860" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" just|strong="G3440" for|strong="G1519" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3739" live under|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3956" Law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G1537" Moses. It|strong="G1223" is|strong="G1510" for|strong="G1519" all|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3739" live with|strong="G1537" faith|strong="G4102" as|strong="G1519" Abraham|strong="G0011" did|strong="G1510". He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3956" father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G1537" us|strong="G1519" all|strong="G3956".
17 As|strong="G5613" the|strong="G3588" Scriptures say, “I|strong="G3739" have|strong="G1510" made|strong="G5087" you|strong="G4771" a|strong="G5613" father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G2316" many|strong="G4183" nations|strong="G1484".” This|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" true before|strong="G2713" God|strong="G2316", the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3739" Abraham|strong="G4100" believed|strong="G4100"—the|strong="G3588" God|strong="G2316" who|strong="G3739" gives|strong="G2227" life|strong="G2227" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" dead|strong="G3498" and|strong="G2532" speaks of|strong="G2316" things|strong="G4183" that|strong="G3754" don’t|strong="G3361" yet|strong="G2532" exist|strong="G1510" as|strong="G5613" if|strong="G5613" they|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" real.
18 There|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" no hope|strong="G1680" that|strong="G3739" Abraham|strong="G0846" would|strong="G1096" have|strong="G1510" children|strong="G4690", but|strong="G3962" Abraham|strong="G0846" believed|strong="G4100" God|strong="G0846" and|strong="G3962" continued to|strong="G1519" hope|strong="G1680". And|strong="G3962" that|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" why|strong="G3739" he|strong="G0846" became|strong="G1096" the|strong="G3588" father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G1909" many|strong="G4183" nations|strong="G1484". As|strong="G1519" God|strong="G0846" told|strong="G3004" him|strong="G0846", “You|strong="G4771" will|strong="G1510" have|strong="G1510" many|strong="G4183" descendants|strong="G4690".”
19 Abraham was|strong="G3588" almost a|strong="G2532" hundred|strong="G1541" years|strong="G1541" old|strong="G1541", so|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" past the|strong="G3588" age for|strong="G2532" having children. Also|strong="G2532", Sarah|strong="G4564" could|strong="G3361" not|strong="G3361" have|strong="G2532" children. Abraham was|strong="G3588" well|strong="G2532" aware of|strong="G4983" this|strong="G3588", but|strong="G2532" his|strong="G1438" faith|strong="G4102" in|strong="G2532" God never|strong="G3361" became weak|strong="G0770".
20 He|strong="G1161" never|strong="G3756" doubted that|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316" would do|strong="G1252" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G1161" promised|strong="G1860". He|strong="G1161" never|strong="G3756" stopped believing|strong="G4102". In|strong="G1519" fact|strong="G0235", he|strong="G1161" grew|strong="G1743" stronger in|strong="G1519" his|strong="G1325" faith|strong="G4102" and|strong="G1161" just praised God|strong="G2316".
21 Abraham felt|strong="G1510" sure that|strong="G3754" God|strong="G1861" was|strong="G1510" able|strong="G1415" to|strong="G2532" do|strong="G4160" what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" promised|strong="G1861".
22 So|strong="G2532" that’s why|strong="G1352" “he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G0846" accepted as|strong="G1519" one|strong="G0846" who|strong="G0846" is|strong="G0846" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G2532" God|strong="G0846".”
23 These|strong="G3748" words (“he|strong="G0846" was|strong="G0846" accepted”) were|strong="G3748" written|strong="G1125" not|strong="G3756" only|strong="G3440" for|strong="G3754" Abraham|strong="G0846".
24 They|strong="G3739" were|strong="G3739" also|strong="G2532" written for|strong="G1223" us|strong="G1537". God|strong="G1453" will|strong="G3739" also|strong="G2532" accept us|strong="G1537" because|strong="G1223" we|strong="G2249" believe|strong="G4100". We|strong="G2249" believe|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" raised|strong="G1453" Jesus|strong="G2424" our|strong="G2424" Lord|strong="G2962" from|strong="G1537" death|strong="G3498".
25 Jesus|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3739" handed|strong="G3860" over|strong="G3860" to|strong="G2532" die|strong="G1223" for|strong="G1223" our|strong="G2532" sins|strong="G3900", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3739" raised|strong="G1453" from|strong="G2532" death to|strong="G2532" make us|strong="G1453" right with|strong="G1223" God|strong="G1453".