Romans 4:23

Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,

BSB

Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

KJV

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

ASV

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;

BBE

Now, it was not because of him only that this was said,

Original Greek

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Οὐκ Ouk Not G3756 ἐγράφη egraphē it was written G1125 δὲ de now G1161 δι di᾽ on account of G1223 αὐτὸν auton him G846 μόνον monon alone G3441 ὅτι hoti that G3754 ἐλογίσθη elogisthē it was credited G3049 αὐτῷ autō to him G846

The early church

After saying many great things of Abraham, and his faith, and righteousness, and honor before God, lest the hearer should say, What is this to us, for it is he that was justified? he places us close to the Patriarch again. So great is the power of spiritual words. For of one of the Gentiles, one who was recently come near, one who had done no work, he not only says that he is in nothing inferior to the Jew who believes (i.e. as a Jew), but not even to the Patriarch, but rather, if one must give utterance to the wondrous truth, even much greater. For so noble is our birth, that his faith is but the type of ours. And he does not say, If it was reckoned unto him, it is probable it will be also to us, that he might not make it matter of syllogism. But he speaks in authentic words of the divine law, and makes the whole a declaration of the Scripture. For why was it written, he says, save to make us see that we also were justified in this way? For it is the same God Whom we have believed, and upon the same matters, if it be not in the case of the same persons. And after speaking of our faith, he also mentions God's unspeakable love towards man, which he ever presents on all sides, bringing the Cross before us.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Romans

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 23–25

The history of Abraham, and of his justification, was recorded to teach men of after-ages; those especially to whom the gospel was then made known. It is plain, that we are not justified by the merit of our own works, but by faith in Jesus Christ and his righteousness; which is the truth urged in this and the foregoing chapter, as the great spring and foundation of all comfort. Christ did meritoriously work our justification and salvation by his death and passion, but the power and perfection thereof, with respect to us, depend on his resurrection. By his death he paid our debt, in his resurrection he received our acquittance, Is 53:8. When he was discharged, we, in Him and together with Him, received the discharge from the guilt and punishment of all our sins. This last verse is an abridgement or summary of the whole gospel.

Read Matthew Henry on Romans 4 →

Cross-references

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Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.