[1]What then shall we say concerning Abraham the patriarch, that by the flesh he obtained? [2]But if Abraham was justified by works, he had [ground of] glorying; yet not before God. [3]For what saith the scripture? That Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [4]But to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as a debt to him. [5]Whereas, to him that worketh not, but only believeth in him that justifieth sinners, his faith is accounted to him for righteousness. [6]As David also speaketh of the blessedness of the man, to whom God reckoneth righteousness without works, [7]saying: Blessed are they, whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sins are covered up: [8]and, Blessed is the man, to whom God will not reckon his sin. [9]This blessedness, therefore, is it on the circumcision? or on the uncircumcision? For we say, that Abraham's faith was reckoned to him for righteousness. [10]How then was it reckoned to him? In circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. [11]For he received circumcision, as the sign and the seal of the righteousness of his faith while in uncircumcision: that he might become the father of all them of the uncircumcision who believe; and that it might be reckoned to them also for righteousness: [12]and the father of the circumcision; not to them only who are of the circumcision, but to them also who fulfill the steps of the faith of our father Abraham in [his] uncircumcision. [13]For the promise to Abraham and to his seed, that he should become the heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of his faith. [14]For if they who are of the law were heirs, faith would be made void, and the promise of no force. [15]For the law is a worker of wrath; because where no law is, there is no transgression of law. [16]Wherefore, it is by the faith which is by grace, that we are justified: so that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all: [17]as it is written: " I have constituted thee a father to a multitude of nations ;" [namely] before God, in whom thou hast believed; who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which are not, as if they were. [18]And without hope, he confided in the hope of becoming the father of a multitude of nations; (as it is written: So will thy seed be.) [19]And he was not sickly in his faith, while contemplating his inert body, (for he was a hundred years old,) and the inert womb of Sarah. [20]And he did not hesitate at the promise of God, as one lacking faith; but he was strong in faith, and gave glory to God; [21]and felt assured, that what God had promised to him, he was able to fulfill. [22]And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness. [23]And not for his sake alone, was it written, that his faith was accounted for righteousness; [24]but for our sakes also; because it is to be accounted [so] to us, who believe in him that raised our Lord Jesus Messiah from the dead; [25]who was delivered up, on account of our sins; and arose, that he might justify us.
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Translation: James Murdock, D. D. (1852)
Source: aramaicnewtestament.org
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