Thomson(i)
1 What then shall we say that our father Abraham obtained in regard to the flesh?
2 for if Abraham was justified because of works he hath matter of boasting. But he hath not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture, "And Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him for righteousness."
4 Now to him who worketh the reward is not reckoned a favour, but a debt.
5 But to him who doth not work, but believeth in him who acquitteth the ungodly, his belief is placed to account for righteousness.
6 As David also saith in respect to the happiness of the man to whose account God placeth righteousness without works,
7 "Happy they whose iniquities are forgiven; And whose sins are covered:
8 Happy the man to whose account the Lord will not charge sin."
9 Now with respect to this happiness, doth it come upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that the believing was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How then was it reckoned to him? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not when in circumcision; but when in uncircumcision;
11 and he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of that belief, which he had in uncircumcision, that he might be a father of all who believe when in a state of uncircumcision, in order that this righteousness may be reckoned to them also
12 and a father of circumcision to them who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of that belief of our father Abraham, which he had during uncircumcision.
13 For the promise that he should be heir of the world was not made to Abraham or his seed, during law, but during the righteousness of belief.
14 For if they who are under law are heirs, the believing is made void, and the promise rendered of no effect.
15 For the law operateth to produce wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore the promise is because of faith, that it may be matter of favour to this extent, that it may be firm to the whole seed"not only to that under the law, but to that of the faith of Abraham,
17 who; as it is written, " I have made thee a father of many nations" is the father of us all in the sight of him in whom he believed; namely God who reanimateth the dead, and calleth up things not yet in existence as if actually existing.
18 Against hope he believed with a hope that he should become father of many nations according to what was said, "So shall thy seed be"
19 and far from being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body now become dead, he being then in his hundredth year; nor the deadness of Sarah's womb.
20 He disputed not against the promise of God by unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully persuaded that he was able to perform what he had promised.
22 Therefore it was reckoned to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written merely for his sake, that it was reckoned to him,
24 but for our sakes also to whom it will now be reckoned, namely to such as believe in him who hath raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
25 who was delivered up for our offences and raised again for our justification.