Romans 4:13

Romans 4:13

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

a. NLT: Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith.

b. NIV: It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

c. YLT: For not through law is the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, of his being heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: For the promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through [observing the commands of] the Law but through the righteousness of faith.

e. Worrell Translation: For, not through law, was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith.

1. “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world…”

a. For [1063 * gar] [Strong: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):—and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. the promise [1860 * epangelia] [Strong: from G1861; an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good):—message, promise.]

c. that he should be [1511 * einai] [Strong: present infinitive from G1510; to exist:—am, was. come, is, × lust after, ×please well, there is, to be, was.]

d. heir [2818 * kleronomos] [Strong: from G2819 and the base of G3551 (in its original sense of partitioning, i.e. (reflexively) getting by apportionment); a sharer by lot, i.e. inheritor (literally or figuratively); by implication, a possessor:—heir.]

e. of the world [2889 kosmos] [Strong: probably from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):—adorning, world.]

1). All the scourses I checked say this promise that Abraham should be “the heir of the world” is not in the promises God made to Abraham, but they attempt to fit them in there somewhere. The bottom line is though it is not found in the Scriptural record that God promised Abraham this, Paul said He did. It will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ when he becomes the King of the world and we, His body being joint heirs with Him.

a). Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

b). Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

2). Adam Clarke Commentary: Abraham is here represented as having all the world given to him as his inheritance; because in him all nations of the earth are blessed: this must therefore relate to their being all interested in the Abrahamic covenant; and every person, now that the covenant is fully explained, has the privilege of claiming justification through faith, by the blood of the Lamb, in virtue of this original grant.

3). Dake: This refers to his being a blessing to all the nations of the earth. He will also literally inherit the earth along with all those blessed with him.

2. “…was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law…”

a. was not [3756 * ou] [Strong: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not:—+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

b. to Abraham [11 * Abraam] [Strong: of Hebrew origin Hebrew 85); Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch:—Abraham.]

c. or [2228 * e] [Strong: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:—and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.]

d. to his [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. seed [4690 * sperma] [Strong: from G4687; something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting):—issue, seed.]

f. through [1223 * dia] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):—after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, × though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in).]

g. the law [3551 * nomos] [Strong: from a primary νέμω némō (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):—law.]

3. “…but through the righteousness of faith.”

a. but [235 * alla] [Strong: neuter plural of G243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):—and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. through [1223 * dia] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):—after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, × though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in).]

c. the righteousness [1343 * dikaiosune] [Strong:  from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:—righteousness.]

d. of faith [4102 * pistis] [Strong: from G3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:—assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]