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Romans 4
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 What shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God: and it was reputed to him unto justice. CCC · Fathers
4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace but according to debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.
6 As David also termeth the blessedness of a man to whom God reputeth justice without works:
7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven: and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.
9 This blessedness then, doth it remain in the circumcision only or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that unto Abraham faith was reputed to justice.
10 How then was it reputed? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the justice of the faith which he had, being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised: that unto them also it may be reputed to justice: CCC
12 And he might be the father of circumcision; not to them only that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faith that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham. Fathers
13 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world: but through the justice of faith.
14 For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void: the promise is made of no effect.
15 For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
16 Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, CCC
17 (As it is written: I have made thee a father of many nations), before God, whom he believed: who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things that are not, as those that are. CCC
18 Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be. CCC
19 And he was not weak in faith. Neither did he consider his own body, now dead (whereas he was almost an hundred years old), nor the dead womb of Sara. CCC
20 In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust: but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God: CCC
21 Most fully knowing that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform. CCC
22 And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.
23 Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice,
24 But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead,
25 Who was delivered up for our sins and rose again for our justification. CCC
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 146 “Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things…”
“And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.”
Quoted in First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Clement of Rome (c. AD 96), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“Because thou hast believed, it is imputed to thee for righteousness: behold, I have made thee the father of those nations who believe in the Lord while in [a state of] uncircumcision.”
Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter XIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter V. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 146 “Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things…”
Read the Fathers
“As Paul does also testify, saying that we are children of Abraham because of the similarity of our faith, and the promise of inheritance.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
- CCC 723 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. With and through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin conceives…”
- CCC 1819 “Christian hope takes up and fulfills the hope of the chosen people which has its origin and model in the hope of…”
- CCC 146 “Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things…”
- CCC 165 “It is then we must turn to the witnesses of faith: to Abraham, who "in hope... believed against hope"; to the Virgin…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
- CCC 723 “In Mary, the Holy Spirit fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. With and through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin conceives…”
- CCC 146 “Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things…”
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.