亚伯拉罕的榜样
这样，那按肉体作我们祖宗的亚伯拉罕，我们要怎么说呢？
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2倘若亚伯拉罕是因行为称义，他就有可夸的，但是在神面前他一无可夸。For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3经上说什么呢？“亚伯拉罕信了神，这就算他为义。”For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4做工的得工资不算是恩典，而是应得的；Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5但那不做工的，只信那位称不敬虔之人为义的，他的信就算为义。But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6正如大卫称那在行为之外蒙神算为义的人是有福的：Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7“过犯得赦免，罪恶蒙遮盖的人有福了！Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8主不算为有罪的，这样的人有福了！”Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9如此看来，这福只加给那受割礼的人吗？不也加给那未受割礼的人吗？我们说，因着信，就算亚伯拉罕为义。Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10那么，这是怎么算的呢？是在他受割礼的时候呢？还是在他未受割礼的时候呢？不是在受割礼的时候，而是在未受割礼的时候。How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11并且，他受了割礼的记号，作他未受割礼的时候因信称义的印证，为使他作一切未受割礼而信之人的父，使他们也算为义，And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12也使他作受割礼之人的父，就是那些不但受割礼，而且跟随我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕未受割礼而信的足迹的人。应许因信而实现
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13因为神给亚伯拉罕和他后裔承受世界的应许不是藉着律法，而是藉着信而得的义。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.
14若是属于律法的人才是后嗣，信就落空了，应许也就失效了。For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15因为律法是惹动愤怒的，哪里没有律法，哪里就没有过犯。Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16所以，人作后嗣是出于信，因此就属乎恩，以致应许保证归给所有的后裔，不但归给那属于律法的，也归给那效法亚伯拉罕之信的人。亚伯拉罕所信的是那叫死人复活、使无变为有的神，在这位神面前亚伯拉罕成为我们众人的父，如经上所记：“我已经立你作多国之父。”Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure 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,
17他在没有盼望的时候，仍存着盼望来相信，就得以作多国之父，正如先前所说：“你的后裔将要如此。”(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18他将近百岁的时候，虽然想到☛“虽然想到”：有古卷是“不顾念”。自己的身体如同已死，撒拉也不可能生育，他的信心还是不软弱，Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19仍仰望神的应许，总没有因不信而起疑惑，反倒因信而刚强，将荣耀归给神，And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20且满心相信神所应许的必能成就。He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21所以这也☛有古卷没有“也”。就算他为义。And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22“算他为义”这句话不是单为他写的，And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23也是为我们将来得算为义的人写的，就是为我们这些信神使我们的主耶稣从死人中复活的人写的。Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24耶稣被出卖，是为我们的过犯；他复活，是为使我们称义。But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;