Romans 4:1-25 What then shall we declare Abraham – our forefather according to the flesh (or: the first founder of our family, in line with natural descent) – to have found? (or: What, consequently, will we say? Is Abraham found as our preferred father on the level or sphere of flesh?)

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ What then shall we declare Abraham – our forefather according to the flesh (or: the first founder of our family, in line with natural descent) – to have found? (or: What, consequently, will we say? Is Abraham found [as] our preferred father on the level or sphere of flesh?) ² You see, if Abraham was rightwised, placed in right relationship, and declared just and in accord with the Way, from out of [his] works (or: made right, turned in the right direction and justified by actions; = included in covenant from [his] deeds), he yet holds something to boast about (a ground or right for boasting), but not toward (or: face to face with) God. ³ For what is the Scripture saying? "Now Abraham believed by, trusted in and was loyal to, God and it was considered for (reasonably concluded in; an account was put to) him [to have entered] into a right relationship with behavior in accord with the Way pointed out (or: unto fairness and equity from being turned in the right direction; for properly-ordered living)." (or: "So Abraham has faith by God, and he is counted into Righteousness and Rightwisedness [= covenant participation] by Him.") [Gen. 15:6] ⁴ Now to (or: for; with) the person habitually working (practicing a trade; accomplishing a work), the wage (or: pay) is not being logically considered (reckoned; put on an account) as corresponding to (or: in accord with) an undeserved, gratuitous gift (or: grace; a favor), but on the contrary, as commensurate with and coming down from a debt (something owed; an obligation). ⁵ But to (or: for; with) the person not habitually working, yet constantly believing (actively placing [his] trust and reliance) upon the One [Who is] continuously making right the irreverent (or: the One habitually rightwising, pointing in the right direction, putting in right relationship, justifying, and placing the profane person in the midst of the [covenantal] Way pointed out), his faith (trust; convinced, confidence and loyal allegiance) is logically being considered (constantly reckoned and credited on account) into (unto; for) right behavior in accord with the Way pointed out (justice; fairness; right, equitable and well-ordered living). ⁶ Exactly as David also is telling of the happiness and blessedness of the person in whom (to whom; for whom) God is constantly counting (reasonably concluding; logically considering) rightwised existence in accord with the Way pointed out (justice; righteousness; solidarity; fair and equitable dealing), apart from works (or: independent of [Law] activities): ⁷ "Happy and blessed [are] the people whose lawlessnesses (transgressions; violations of the Law; lawless deeds) were and are sent away (dismissed; discharged; divorced; pardoned) and whose failures (errors; missings of the target; sins) were and are covered over (concealed with a veil or lid)! ⁸ "Happy and blessed [are the] adult males of whom [other MSS: to whom; for whom] the Lord (= Yahweh) may by no means logically consider a failure (take into account or conclude a missed target; reasonably calculate or reckon a sin)." [Ps. 32:1-2] ⁹ So then, [is] this happiness (or: blessedness) upon the Circumcision, or upon the Uncircumcision as well (or: also)? Emphatically we are habitually reiterating, "The faith and trust is logically considered [to be] in Abraham into accordance with the Way pointed out (or: Faith was accounted to and reckoned for Abraham for Righteousness - fair and equitable dealings and rightwised existence)." [Gen. 15:6] ¹⁰ How then is it or was it logically considered or calculated (or: How then was it put to the account and reckoned) – with [his] being (= when he was) in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but on the contrary, in uncircumcision! ¹¹ Then later he received (or: took hold of; obtained) circumcision as a mark and a sign (or: circumcision’s sign) – a seal (or: a stamped impression of a seal or signet ring which shows both possession and authority) of and from the accordance with the Way pointed out, which is faith (or: of a rightwised relationship with fair and equitable dealings from trust and which has the character and qualities of conviction; or: from faith's own righteousness), pertaining to the [situation of being] within the uncircumcision (or: = the right covenantal relationship corresponding to the faith he had while in his uncircumcised state), in order for him to be a father of all the people habitually believing and trusting by way of uncircumcision [and moving them] into [the place for] the accordance with the Way pointed out (or: the rightwised relationships characterized by fair and equitable dealings; the well-ordered life that is pointed in the right direction; = covenantal inclusion) to be logically considered in them (or: reckoned and reasonably concluded to them; calculated, accounted and credited for them) also – ¹² and as well, a father of [the] Circumcision, [yet] not to (or: for) those out of circumcision only, but rather also to (for; in; by; with) those continuously advancing in line with the elements of the faith (or: walking orderly by the first principles of trust and reliant allegiance) – in the footprints of our father Abraham – within uncircumcision (or: in uncircumcision, in union with the footprints of the faith of our father Abraham). ¹³ For not through (a; or: [the]) law [is/was] the Promise to (for; in) Abraham, or to (for; in) his seed (offspring; posterity), [for] him to be an heir of [the] aggregate of humanity (or: the one receiving and enjoying an allotted System of culture: the world of society), but on the contrary, through a [covenantal]-rightwisedness which is faith and creates faithfulness (or: faith’s righteousness and justice; a placing in right relationship and a keeping in the Way pointed out which belongs to and comes from faith, reliance and trust; trust’s way of life which results in fair and equitable dealings; fairness and equity from conviction). ¹⁴ You see, if the ones out of law (or: = those who have [the] Law as their origin) [are] heirs (inheritors and enjoyers of the allotment), [then] the faith has been made empty (void; vain) and is now without content, and the Promise has been rendered useless (has been permanently unemployed and idle; has been annulled and is inoperative). ¹⁵ For you see, the Law is by labor constantly effecting personal emotion from intrinsic fervor or natural propensity (or: is working-down anger and wrath; is producing indignation; is fully accomplishing a teeming, passionate impulse or a disposition of desire). Yet (or: Now) where no law is existing (or: where there is no custom), neither [is there] a stepping to the side (a transgression; a violation; a breach). ¹⁶ On account of this (or: Therefore) [it is; it was; the Promise comes] from out of faith-trust, to the end that [it is] down from, in line with and according to grace: a joy-producing act of favor [leading] unto (or: into) the [situation for] the Promise to be continuously firm (steadily walked; secured, confirmed and established; guaranteed as valid and made sure) in all (or: to all; for all) the seed (or: = realized by all the offspring), not in the [seed] (or: to the one; for the person) from out of the Law only (or: by that only from out of custom), but rather also in the [seed] (or: to the one; for the person; or: by that) from out of Abraham’s faith, which is a father of all of us (or: out of [the] trust of Abraham, who is [the] father of us all). ¹⁷ According as it has been and stands written, "A father of many multitudes (nations; ethnic groups) I have placed (put; set; deposited) you" [Gen. 17:5] – [while he was being] down in the midst of and facing [the One] Whom (or: down in a place that was in opposition, of which; or: in line with and in union with, yet being on the opposite side of the matter) he believed, which was God (or: he trusted in [the message] which was God; or: he relied upon [the idea] which [came] from God; or: he gained confidence from God) – the One continuously (habitually; or: repeatedly; periodically) making the dead ones alive, and (or: even) continuously calling (or: repeatedly and habitually summoning) the things not existing as existing (or: = not being into continuously being) – ¹⁸ who, to the side of expectation (or: more than or beyond expectation; beside hope; near the side of expectation) trusted (believed; relied; put faith) upon expectation (or: hope) into the [situation for] him to become (to bring himself into being) a father of many multitudes (nations; ethnic groups), in accord with (down from and in line with) that having been and still being spoken (or: declared), "Thus shall progressively be your seed (or: offspring; descendants)." ¹⁹ And so, not being weak (without strength; infirm) in this faith, trust and loyalty, he attentively considered (studied, thought and perceived down upon) his own body by this time (or: already) having been made dead (or: deadened), subsisting in the circumstances of (or: beginning to be under the possession of) about one hundred years, as well as (or: also; and; even) the state of deadness (or: deadening) of Sarah’s womb, ²⁰ but [being moved] into God’s Promise he was not divided in his judgment by unbelief (or: but by and in lack of trust he was not separated or undecided in view of, and with regard to, God’s Promise; or: yet unto God’s Promise he did not waiver or doubt in disloyalty), but on the contrary, he was empowered and enabled by faith (or: in trust; for conviction; with loyalty), giving glory (or: an opinion; an estimation; credit) to God and a reputation for God, ²¹ and being carried to full conviction and assurance that what He had promised He continuously exists being capable and powerful to do (to make; to perform). ²² Wherefore (or: Through which; For this reason), also, it was and is logically considered for him (reasonably reckoned in him and accounted to him) into rightwisedness (virtue in the Way pointed out and the setting in right relationship; righteousness; fair and equitable dealing; right thinking and conduct; being turned in the right direction; = covenantal inclusion). ²³ Now it was not written because of him only, that, "it was and is logically considered for him (reckoned, concluded and accounted to him; it was put to his account)," [Gen. 15:6] ²⁴ but rather (or: on the contrary) because of us also, for whom, in whom, with whom and to whom it is constantly about to be logically considered (or: it continues being about to be put on account) for, in and to the folks continually believing, constantly trusting, habitually expressing covenant allegiance and progressively relying upon the One rousing and raising Jesus, our Lord, forth from out of the midst of dead folks – ²⁵ [He] who was handed (delivered) over through and because of the effects of our falls to the side (or: with a view to the results of our stumblings aside, transgressions and offenses), and yet was roused and raised up through and because of our being placed in the Way pointed out and turned in the right direction (or: for the benefit of our being made to be just; or: on behalf of our justifying, leading to freedom from guilt; or: for the purpose of our being brought into equity and right relationship: a rightwising of solidarity in covenant inclusion and participation).