Russian Interlinear Translation of the New Testament

1

Τί Что G5100 I-ASN

οὖν итак G3767 CONJ

ἐροῦμεν скажем G2046 V-FAI-1P

εὑρηκέναι найти G2147 V-RAN

Ἀβραὰμ Авраама G11 N-PRI

τὸν G3588 T-ASM

προπάτορα праотца G3962 N-ASM

ἡμῶν нашего G2257 P-1GP

κατὰ по G2596 PREP

σάρκα; плоти? G4561 N-ASF

2

εἰ Если G1487 COND

γὰρ ведь G1063 CONJ

Ἀβραὰμ Авраам G11 N-PRI

ἐξ из G1537 PREP

ἔργων дел G2041 N-GPN

ἐδικαιώθη, был оправдан, G1344 V-API-3S

ἔχει имеет G2192 V-PAI-3S

καύχημα· гордость; G2745 N-ASN

ἀλλ᾽ но G235 CONJ

οὐ не G3739 PRT-N

πρὸς к G4314 PREP

θεόν. Богу. G2316 N-ASM

3

τί Что G5100 I-ASN

γὰρ ведь G1063 CONJ

ἡ G1510 T-NSF

γραφὴ Писание G1124 N-NSF

λέγει; говорит? G3004 V-PAI-3S

Ἐπίστευσεν Поверил G4100 V-AAI-3S

δὲ же G1161 CONJ

Ἀβραὰμ Авраам G11 N-PRI

τῷ G3588 T-DSM

θεῷ, Богу, G2316 N-DSM

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

ἐλογίσθη было засчитано G3049 V-API-3S

αὐτῷ ему G846 P-DSM

εἰς в G1519 PREP

δικαιοσύνην. праведность. G1343 N-ASF

4

τῷ G3588 T-DSM

δὲ Же G1161 CONJ

ἐργαζομένῳ делающему G2038 V-PNP-DSM

ὁ G3588 T-NSM

μισθὸς плата G3408 N-NSM

οὐ не G3739 PRT-N

λογίζεται засчитывается G3049 V-PNI-3S

κατὰ по G2596 PREP

χάριν благодарности G5485 N-ASF

ἀλλὰ но G235 CONJ

κατὰ по G2596 PREP

ὀφείλημα· долгу; G3783 N-ASN

5

τῷ G3588 T-DSM

δὲ же G1161 CONJ

μὴ не G3361 PRT-N

ἐργαζομένῳ, делающему, G2038 V-PNP-DSM

πιστεύοντι верящему G4100 V-PAP-DSM

δὲ же G1161 CONJ

ἐπὶ в G1909 PREP

τὸν G3588 T-ASM

δικαιοῦντα оправдывающего G1344 V-PAP-ASM

τὸν G3588 T-ASM

ἀσεβῆ, нечестивого, G765 A-ASM

λογίζεται засчитывается G3049 V-PNI-3S

ἡ G1510 T-NSF

πίστις вера G4102 N-NSF

αὐτοῦ его G846 P-GSM

εἰς в G1519 PREP

δικαιοσύνην, праведность, G1343 N-ASF

6

καθάπερ подобно тому как G2509 ADV

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

Δαυὶδ Давид G1138 N-PRI

λέγει говорит G3004 V-PAI-3S

τὸν G3588 T-ASM

μακαρισμὸν (о) блаженстве G3108 N-ASM

τοῦ G3588 T-GSM

ἀνθρώπου человека G444 N-GSM

ᾧ которому G3739 R-DSM

ὁ G3588 T-NSM

θεὸς Бог G2316 N-NSM

λογίζεται засчитывает G3049 V-PNI-3S

δικαιοσύνην праведность G1343 N-ASF

χωρὶς без G5565 ADV

ἔργων, дел, G2041 N-GPN

7

Μακάριοι Блаженны G3107 A-NPM

ὧν которых G3739 R-GPM

ἀφέθησαν были прощены G863 V-API-3P

αἱ G3588 T-NPF

ἀνομίαι беззакония G458 N-NPF

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

ὧν которых G3739 R-GPM

ἐπεκαλύφθησαν были покрыты G1943 V-API-3P

αἱ G3588 T-NPF

ἁμαρτίαι· грехи; G266 N-NPF

8

μακάριος блажен G3107 A-NSM

ἀνὴρ муж G435 N-NSM

οὗ которого G3739 R-GSM

οὐ нет G3364 PRT-N

μὴ не G3364 PRT-N

λογίσηται засчитает G3049 V-ADS-3S

κύριος Господь G2962 N-NSM

ἁμαρτίαν. грех. G266 N-ASF

9

ὁ G3588 T-NSM

μακαρισμὸς Блаженство G3108 N-NSM

οὖν итак G3767 CONJ

οὗτος это G3778 D-NSM

ἐπὶ на G1909 PREP

τὴν G3588 T-ASF

περιτομὴν обрезание G4061 N-ASF

ἢ или G1510 PRT

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

ἐπὶ на G1909 PREP

τὴν G3588 T-ASF

ἀκροβυστίαν; необрезание? G203 N-ASF

λέγομεν Говорим G3004 V-PAI-1P

γάρ, ведь, G1063 CONJ

Ἐλογίσθη Была засчитана G3049 V-API-3S

τῷ G3588 T-DSM

Ἀβραὰμ Аврааму G11 N-PRI

ἡ G1510 T-NSF

πίστις вера G4102 N-NSF

εἰς в G1519 PREP

δικαιοσύνην. праведность. G1343 N-ASF

10

πῶς Как G4459 ADV-I

οὖν итак G3767 CONJ

ἐλογίσθη; была засчитана? G3049 V-API-3S

ἐν В G1722 PREP

περιτομῇ обрезании G4061 N-DSF

ὄντι сущему G1510 V-PAP-DSM

ἢ или G1510 PRT

ἐν в G1722 PREP

ἀκροβυστίᾳ; необрезанности? G203 N-DSF

οὐκ Не G3756 PRT-N

ἐν в G1722 PREP

περιτομῇ обрезании G4061 N-DSF

ἀλλ᾽ но G235 CONJ

ἐν в G1722 PREP

ἀκροβυστίᾳ· необрезанности; G203 N-DSF

11

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

σημεῖον знамение G4592 N-ASN

ἔλαβεν он получил G2983 V-2AAI-3S

περιτομῆς, обрезания, G4061 N-GSF

σφραγῖδα печать G4973 N-ASF

τῆς G3588 T-GSF

δικαιοσύνης праведности G1343 N-GSF

τῆς G3588 T-GSF

πίστεως веры G4102 N-GSF

τῆς G3588 T-GSF

ἐν в G1722 PREP

τῇ G3588 T-DSF

ἀκροβυστίᾳ, необрезанности, G203 N-DSF

εἰς для G1519 PREP

τὸ G3588 T-ASN

εἶναι быть G1510 V-PAN

αὐτὸν ему G846 P-ASM

πατέρα отцом G3962 N-ASM

πάντων всех G3956 A-GPM

τῶν G3588 T-GPM

πιστευόντων верящих G4100 V-PAP-GPM

δι᾽ через G1223 PREP

ἀκροβυστίας, необрезание, G203 N-GSF

εἰς для G1519 PREP

τὸ G3588 T-ASN

λογισθῆναι быть засчитанной G3049 V-APN

(καὶ) и G2532 CONJ

αὐτοῖς им G846 P-DPM

(τὴν) G3588 T-ASF

δικαιοσύνην, праведности, G1343 N-ASF

12

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

πατέρα отца G3962 N-ASM

περιτομῆς обрезания G4061 N-GSF

τοῖς которым G3588 T-DPM

οὐκ не G3756 PRT-N

ἐκ из G1537 PREP

περιτομῆς обрезания G4061 N-GSF

μόνον только G3440 ADV

ἀλλὰ но G235 CONJ

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

τοῖς G3588 T-DPM

στοιχοῦσιν ступающим G4748 V-PAP-DPM

τοῖς G3588 T-DPN

ἴχνεσιν следами G2487 N-DPN

τῆς G3588 T-GSF

ἐν в G1722 PREP

ἀκροβυστίᾳ необрезанности G203 N-DSF

πίστεως веры G4102 N-GSF

τοῦ G3588 T-GSM

πατρὸς отца G3962 N-GSM

ἡμῶν нашего G2257 P-1GP

Ἀβραάμ. Авраама. G11 N-PRI

13

Οὐ Не G3739 PRT-N

γὰρ ведь G1063 CONJ

διὰ через G1223 PREP

νόμου Закон G3551 N-GSM

ἡ G1510 T-NSF

ἐπαγγελία обещание G1860 N-NSF

τῷ G3588 T-DSM

Ἀβραὰμ Аврааму G11 N-PRI

ἢ или G1510 PRT

τῷ G3588 T-DSN

σπέρματι семени G4690 N-DSN

αὐτοῦ, его, G846 P-GSM

τὸ G3588 T-NSN

κληρονόμον наследника G2818 N-ASM

αὐτὸν его G846 P-ASM

εἶναι быть G1510 V-PAN

κόσμου, мира, G2889 N-GSM

ἀλλὰ но G235 CONJ

διὰ через G1223 PREP

δικαιοσύνης праведность G1343 N-GSF

πίστεως· веры; G4102 N-GSF

14

εἰ если G1487 COND

γὰρ ведь G1063 CONJ

οἱ G3588 T-NPM

ἐκ из G1537 PREP

νόμου Закона G3551 N-GSM

κληρονόμοι, наследники, G2818 N-NPM

κεκένωται опустошена G2758 V-RPI-3S

ἡ G1510 T-NSF

πίστις вера G4102 N-NSF

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

κατήργηται упразднено G2673 V-RPI-3S

ἡ G1510 T-NSF

ἐπαγγελία· обещание; G1860 N-NSF

15

ὁ G3588 T-NSM

γὰρ ведь G1063 CONJ

νόμος Закон G3551 N-NSM

ὀργὴν гнев G3709 N-ASF

κατεργάζεται· производит; G2716 V-PNI-3S

οὗ где G3739 ADV

δὲ же G1161 CONJ

οὐκ не G3756 PRT-N

ἔστιν есть G1510 V-PAI-3S

νόμος, Закон, G3551 N-NSM

οὐδὲ и не G3761 CONJ-N

παράβασις. преступление. G3847 N-NSF

16

διὰ Из-за G1223 PREP

τοῦτο этого G5124 D-ASN

ἐκ из G1537 PREP

πίστεως, веры, G4102 N-GSF

ἵνα чтобы G2443 CONJ

κατὰ по G2596 PREP

χάριν, благодати, G5485 N-ASF

εἰς на G1519 PREP

τὸ G3588 T-ASN

εἶναι быть G1510 V-PAN

βεβαίαν прочное G949 A-ASF

τὴν G3588 T-ASF

ἐπαγγελίαν обещание G1860 N-ASF

παντὶ всему G3956 A-DSN

τῷ G3588 T-DSN

σπέρματι, семени, G4690 N-DSN

οὐ не G3739 PRT-N

τῷ G3588 T-DSN

ἐκ из G1537 PREP

τοῦ G3588 T-GSM

νόμου Закона G3551 N-GSM

μόνον только G3440 ADV

ἀλλὰ но G235 CONJ

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

τῷ G3588 T-DSN

ἐκ из G1537 PREP

πίστεως веры G4102 N-GSF

Ἀβραάμ Авраама G11 N-PRI

(ὅς который G3739 R-NSM

ἐστιν есть G1510 V-PAI-3S

πατὴρ отец G3962 N-NSM

πάντων всех G3956 A-GPM

ἡμῶν, нас, G2257 P-1GP

17

καθὼς как G2531 ADV

γέγραπται написано G1125 V-RPI-3S

ὅτι что G3754 CONJ

Πατέρα Отцом G3962 N-ASM

πολλῶν многих G4183 A-GPN

ἐθνῶν народов G1484 N-GPN

τέθεικά Я положил G5087 V-RAI-1S

σε) тебя G4571 P-2AS

κατέναντι перед G2713 ADV

οὗ Которым G3739 R-GSM

ἐπίστευσεν поверил G4100 V-AAI-3S

θεοῦ Богу G2316 N-GSM

τοῦ G3588 T-GSM

ζῳοποιοῦντος оживляющим G2227 V-PAP-GSM

τοὺς G3588 T-APM

νεκροὺς мёртвых G3498 A-APM

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

καλοῦντος призывающего G2564 V-PAP-GSM

τὰ G3588 T-APN

μὴ не G3361 PRT-N

ὄντα сущее G1510 V-PAP-APN

ὡς как G5613 ADV

ὄντα· сущее; G1510 V-PAP-APN

18

ὃς Который G3739 R-NSM

παρ᾽ от G3844 PREP

ἐλπίδα надежды G1680 N-ASF

ἐπ᾽ в G1909 PREP

ἐλπίδι надежде G1680 N-DSF

ἐπίστευσεν поверил G4100 V-AAI-3S

εἰς в G1519 PREP

τὸ G3588 T-ASN

γενέσθαι случиться G1096 V-2ADN

αὐτὸν ему G846 P-ASM

πατέρα отцом G3962 N-ASM

πολλῶν многих G4183 A-GPN

ἐθνῶν народов G1484 N-GPN

κατὰ по G2596 PREP

τὸ G3588 T-ASN

εἰρημένον, сказанному, G2046 V-RPP-ASN-ATT

Οὕτως Так G3779 ADV

ἔσται будет G1510 V-FDI-3S

τὸ G3588 T-NSN

σπέρμα семя G4690 N-NSN

σου· твоё; G4675 P-2GS

19

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

μὴ не G3361 PRT-N

ἀσθενήσας ослабевший G770 V-AAP-NSM

τῇ G3588 T-DSF

πίστει верой G4102 N-DSF

κατενόησεν он рассмотрел G2657 V-AAI-3S

τὸ G3588 T-ASN

ἑαυτοῦ своё G1438 F-3GSM

σῶμα тело G4983 N-ASN

(ἤδη) уже́ G2235 ADV

νενεκρωμένον, омертвевшее, G3499 V-RPP-ASN

ἑκατονταετής столетний G1541 A-NSM

που где-то G4226 ADV

ὑπάρχων, пребывающий, G5225 V-PAP-NSM

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

τὴν G3588 T-ASF

νέκρωσιν омертвение G3500 N-ASF

τῆς G3588 T-GSF

μήτρας материнского лона G3388 N-GSF

Σάρρας, Сарры, G4564 N-GSF

20

εἰς в G1519 PREP

δὲ же G1161 CONJ

τὴν G3588 T-ASF

ἐπαγγελίαν обещании G1860 N-ASF

τοῦ G3588 T-GSM

θεοῦ Бога G2316 N-GSM

οὐ не G3739 PRT-N

διεκρίθη усомнился он G1252 V-API-3S

τῇ G3588 T-DSF

ἀπιστίᾳ неверием G570 N-DSF

ἀλλ᾽ но G235 CONJ

ἐνεδυναμώθη он был усилен G1743 V-API-3S

τῇ G3588 T-DSF

πίστει, верой, G4102 N-DSF

δοὺς давший G1325 V-2AAP-NSM

δόξαν славу G1391 N-ASF

τῷ G3588 T-DSM

θεῷ Богу G2316 N-DSM

21

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

πληροφορηθεὶς исполненный уверенностью G4135 V-APP-NSM

ὅτι что G3754 CONJ

ὃ которое G3588 R-ASN

ἐπήγγελται Он обещал G1861 V-RNI-3S

δυνατός сильный G1415 A-NSM

ἐστιν есть G1510 V-PAI-3S

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

ποιῆσαι. сделать. G4160 V-AAN

22

διὸ Потому G1352 CONJ

(καὶ) и G2532 CONJ

ἐλογίσθη было засчитано G3049 V-API-3S

αὐτῷ ему G846 P-DSM

εἰς в G1519 PREP

δικαιοσύνην. праведность. G1343 N-ASF

23

Οὐκ Не G3756 PRT-N

ἐγράφη было написано G1125 V-2API-3S

δὲ же G1161 CONJ

δι᾽ из-за G1223 PREP

αὐτὸν него G846 P-ASM

μόνον только G3440 ADV

ὅτι что G3754 CONJ

ἐλογίσθη было засчитано G3049 V-API-3S

αὐτῷ, ему, G846 P-DSM

24

ἀλλὰ но G235 CONJ

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

δι᾽ из-за G1223 PREP

ἡμᾶς нас G2248 P-1AP

οἷς которым G3739 R-DPM

μέλλει готовится G3195 V-PAI-3S

λογίζεσθαι, быть засчитываемым, G3049 V-PPN

τοῖς G3588 T-DPM

πιστεύουσιν верящим G4100 V-PAP-DPM

ἐπὶ в G1909 PREP

τὸν G3588 T-ASM

ἐγείραντα Воскресившего G1453 V-AAP-ASM

Ἰησοῦν Иисуса G2424 N-ASM

τὸν G3588 T-ASM

κύριον Го́спода G2962 N-ASM

ἡμῶν нашего G2257 P-1GP

ἐκ из G1537 PREP

νεκρῶν, мёртвых, G3498 A-GPM

25

ὃς Который G3739 R-NSM

παρεδόθη был предан G3860 V-API-3S

διὰ из-за G1223 PREP

τὰ G3588 T-APN

παραπτώματα проступков G3900 N-APN

ἡμῶν наших G2257 P-1GP

καὶ и G2532 CONJ

ἠγέρθη воскрешён G1453 V-API-3S

διὰ из-за G1223 PREP

τὴν G3588 T-ASF

δικαίωσιν оправдания G1347 N-ASF

ἡμῶν. нашего. G2257 P-1GP

Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary
 1   THE FOREGOING DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ILLUSTRATED FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. (Rom. 4:1-25)
What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?--that is, (as the order in the original shows), "hath found, as pertaining to ('according to,' or 'through') the flesh"; meaning, "by all his natural efforts or legal obedience."

 2   For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God--"If works were the ground of Abraham's justification, he would have matter for boasting; but as it is perfectly certain that he hath none in the sight of God, it follows that Abraham could not have been justified by works." And to this agree the words of Scripture.

 3   For what saith the, Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it--his faith.
was counted to him for righteousness-- (Gen 15:6). Romish expositors and Arminian Protestants make this to mean that God accepted Abraham's act of believing as a substitute for complete obedience. But this is at variance with the whole spirit and letter of the apostle's teaching. Throughout this whole argument, faith is set in direct opposition to works, in the matter of justification--and even in Rom 4:4-Rom 4:5. The meaning, therefore, cannot possibly be that the mere act of believing--which is as much a work as any other piece of commanded duty (John 6:29; 1John 3:23) --was counted to Abraham for all obedience. The meaning plainly is that Abraham believed in the promises which embraced Christ (Gen 12:3; Gen 15:5, &c.), as we believe in Christ Himself; and in both cases, faith is merely the instrument that puts us in possession of the blessing gratuitously bestowed.

 4   Now to him that worketh--as a servant for wages.
is the reward not reckoned of grace--as a matter of favor.
but of debt--as a matter of right.

 5   But to him that worketh not--who, despairing of acceptance with God by "working" for it the work of obedience, does not attempt it.
but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly--casts himself upon the mercy of Him that justifieth those who deserve only condemnation.
his faith, &c.--(See on Rom 4:3).
Second: David sings of the same justification.

 6   David also describeth--"speaketh," "pronounceth."
the blessedness of the man unto whom the Lord imputeth righteousness without works--whom, though void of all good works, He, nevertheless, regards and treats as righteous.

 7   Saying, Blessed, &c.-- (Ps 32:1-Ps 32:2). David here sings in express terms only of "transgression forgiven, sin covered, iniquity not imputed"; but as the negative blessing necessarily includes the positive, the passage is strictly in point.

 9   Cometh this blessedness then, &c.--that is, "Say not, All this is spoken of the circumcised, and is therefore no evidence of God's general way of justifying men; for Abraham's justification took place long before he was circumcised, and so could have no dependence upon that rite: nay, 'the sign of circumcision' was given to Abraham as 'a seal' (or token) of the (justifying) righteousness which he had before he was circumcised; in order that he might stand forth to every age as the parent believer--the model man of justification by faith--after whose type, as the first public example of it, all were to be moulded, whether Jew or Gentile, who should thereafter believe to life everlasting."

 13   For the promise, &c.--This is merely an enlargement of the foregoing reasoning, applying to the law what had just been said of circumcision.
that he should be the heir of the world--or, that "all the families of the earth should be blessed in him."
was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law--in virtue of obedience to the law.
but through the righteousness of faith--in virtue of his simple faith in the divine promises.

 14   For if they which are of the law be heirs--If the blessing is to be earned by obedience to the law.
faith is made void--the whole divine method is subverted.

 15   Because the law worketh wrath--has nothing to give to those who break is but condemnation and vengeance.
for where there is no law, there is no transgression--It is just the law that makes transgression, in the case of those who break it; nor can the one exist without the other.

 16   Therefore, &c.--A general summary: "Thus justification is by faith, in order that its purely gracious character may be seen, and that all who follow in the steps of Abraham's faith--whether of his natural seed or no--may be assured of the like justification with the parent believer."

 17   As it is written, &c.-- (Gen 17:5). This is quoted to justify his calling Abraham the "father of us all," and is to be viewed as a parenthesis.
before--that is, "in the reckoning of."
him whom he believed--that is, "Thus Abraham, in the reckoning of Him whom he believed, is the father of us all, in order that all may be assured, that doing as he did, they shall be treated as he was."
even God, quickeneth the dead--The nature and greatness of that faith of Abraham which we are to copy is here strikingly described. What he was required to believe being above nature, his faith had to fasten upon God's power to surmount physical incapacity, and call into being what did not then exist. But God having made the promise, Abraham believed Him in spite of those obstacles. This is still further illustrated in what follows.

 18   Who against hope--when no ground for hope appeared.
believed in hope--that is, cherished the believing expectation.
that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be--that is, Such "as the stars of heaven," Gen 15:5.

 19   he considered not, &c.--paid no attention to those physical obstacles, both in himself and in Sarah, which might seem to render the fulfilment hopeless.

 20   He staggered--hesitated
not . . . but was strong in faith, giving glory to God--as able to make good His own word in spite of all obstacles.

 21   And being fully persuaded, &c.--that is, the glory which Abraham's faith gave to God consisted in this, that, firm in the persuasion of God's ability to fulfil his promise, no difficulties shook him.

 22   And therefore it was imputed, &c.--"Let all then take notice that this was not because of anything meritorious in Abraham, but merely because he so believed."

 23   Now, &c.--Here is the application of this whole argument about Abraham: These things were not recorded as mere historical facts, but as illustrations for all time of God's method of justification by faith.

 24   to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe in him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead--in Him that hath done this, even as Abraham believed that God would raise up a seed in whom all nations should be blessed.

 25   Who was delivered for--"on account of."
our offences--that is, in order to expiate them by His blood.
and raised again for--"on account of," that is, in order to.
our justification--As His resurrection was the divine assurance that He had "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself," and the crowning of His whole work, our justification is fitly connected with that glorious act.
Note, (1) The doctrine of justification by works, as it generates self-exaltation, is contrary to the first principles of all true religion (Rom 4:2; and see on Rom 3:21-Rom 3:26, Note 1). (2) The way of a sinner's justification has been the same in all time, and the testimony of the Old Testament on this subject is one with that of the New (Rom 4:3, &c., and see on Rom 3:27-Rom 3:31, Note 1). (3) Faith and works, in the matter of justification, are opposite and irreconcilable, even as grace and debt (Rom 4:4-Rom 4:5; and see on Rom 11:6). If God "justifies the ungodly," works cannot be, in any sense or to any degree, the ground of justification. For the same reason, the first requisite, in order to justification, must be (under the conviction that we are "ungodly") to despair of it by works; and the next, to "believe in Him that justifieth the ungodly"--that hath a justifying righteousness to bestow, and is ready to bestow it upon those who deserve none, and to embrace it accordingly. (4) The sacraments of the Church were never intended, and are not adapted, to confer grace, or the blessings of salvation, upon men. Their proper use is to set a divine seal upon a state already existing, and so, they presuppose, and do not create it (Rom 4:8-Rom 4:12). As circumcision merely "sealed" Abraham's already existing acceptance with God, so with the sacraments of the New Testament. (5) As Abraham is "the heir of the world," all nations being blessed in him, through his Seed Christ Jesus, and justified solely according to the pattern of his faith, so the transmission of the true religion and all the salvation which the world will ever experience shall yet be traced back with wonder, gratitude, and joy, to that morning dawn when "the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran," Acts 7:2 (Rom 4:13). (6) Nothing gives more glory to God than simple faith in His word, especially when all things seem to render the fulfilment of it hopeless (Rom 4:18-Rom 4:21). (7) All the Scripture examples of faith were recorded on purpose to beget and encourage the like faith in every succeeding age (Rom 4:23-Rom 4:24; and compare Rom 15:4). (8) Justification, in this argument, cannot be taken--as Romanists and other errorists insist--to mean a change upon men's character; for besides that this is to confound it with Sanctification, which has its appropriate place in this Epistle, the whole argument of the present chapter--and nearly all its more important clauses, expressions, and words--would in that case be unsuitable, and fitted only to mislead. Beyond all doubt it means exclusively a change upon men's state or relation to God; or, in scientific language, it is an objective, not a subjective change--a change from guilt and condemnation to acquittal and acceptance. And the best evidence that this is the key to the whole argument is, that it opens all the wards of the many-chambered lock with which the apostle has enriched us in this Epistle.