Movatterモバイル変換

◄ Romans 4:14►

New International Version
For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,

New Living Translation
If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.

English Standard Version
For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

Berean Standard Bible
For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

Berean Literal Bible
For if those ofthe Laware heirs, faith has been made void and the promise made of no effect.

King James Bible
For if they which are of the lawbe heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

New King James Version
For if those who are of the laware heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

New American Standard Bible
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

NASB 1995
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

NASB 1977
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;

Legacy Standard Bible
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith has been made empty and the promise has been abolished;

Amplified Bible
If those who are [followers] of the Law are [the true] heirs [of Abraham], then faith [leading to salvation] is of no effectand void, and the promise [of God] is nullified.

Christian Standard Bible
If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise is canceled.

American Standard Version
For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:

Contemporary English Version
If Abraham and his descendants were given this promise because they had obeyed a law, then faith would mean nothing, and the promise would be worthless.

English Revised Version
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If those who obey Moses' Teachings are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless.

Good News Translation
For if what God promises is to be given to those who obey the Law, then faith means nothing and God's promise is worthless.

International Standard Version
For if those who were given the Law are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

NET Bible
For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified.

New Heart English Bible
For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

Webster's Bible Translation
For if they who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect.

Weymouth New Testament
For if it is the righteous through Law who are heirs, then faith is useless and the promise counts for nothing.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

World English Bible
For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for if they who are of law [are] heirs, faith has been made void, and the promise has been made useless;

Berean Literal Bible
For if those ofthe Laware heirs, faith has been made void and the promise made of no effect.

Young's Literal Translation
for if they who are of law are heirs, the faith hath been made void, and the promise hath been made useless;

Smith's Literal Translation
For if they of the law, heirs, faith was made void, and the promise left inactive:

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of no effect.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith becomes empty and the Promise is abolished.

New American Bible
For if those who adhere to the law are the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

New Revised Standard Version
If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For if they had become heirs by means of the law, then faith would have been empty and the promise made of no effect.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For if these who are of The Written Law were the heirs, faith would have been worthless and The Promise would have been void.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
For if they that are of the law be heirs, the faith is made powerless, and the promise is unmeaning;

Godbey New Testament
For if the heirs were by the law, faith has been made void, and the promise vitiated.

Haweis New Testament
For if they who are of the law are heirs, faith becomes vain, and the promise is useless:

Mace New Testament
for if they only who are of the law have right of possession, faith is made useless, and the promise becomes of no effect.

Weymouth New Testament
For if it is the righteous through Law who are heirs, then faith is useless and the promise counts for nothing.

Worrell New Testament
For, if thosewho are ofthe laware heirs, faith has been made void, and the promise has been brought to nought;

Worsley New Testament
for if theyonly that are of the law be heirs, faith is made useless, and the promise is become of no effect.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Abraham Receives the Promise
13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.14For if those who live by the law are heirs,faith is useless and the promise is worthless,15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Galatians 3:18
For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Galatians 3:21-22
Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. / But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Romans 3:27-28
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. / For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, / through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Galatians 2:16
know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Titus 3:5-7
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. / This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, / so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:39
Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Genesis 15:6
Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Genesis 17:4-5
“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. / No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.

Treasury of Scripture

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

For if.

Romans 4:16
Thereforeit is of faith, thatit 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,

Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousnesscome by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:18-24
For if the inheritancebe of the law,it is no more of promise: but God gaveit to Abraham by promise…

made.

Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Numbers 30:12,15
But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heardthem; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her…

Psalm 119:126
It is time forthee, LORD, to work:for they have made void thy law.

Jump to Previous

Adherents Counts Effect Faith Heirs Heritage Law Null Nullified Power Promise Righteous Use Useless Vain Value Void Word Worthless

Jump to Next

Adherents Counts Effect Faith Heirs Heritage Law Null Nullified Power Promise Righteous Use Useless Vain Value Void Word Worthless

Romans 4

1.Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness;
10.before he was circumcised.
13.By faith only he and his seed received the promise.
16.Abraham is the father of all who believe.
24.Our faith also shall be credited to us as righteousness.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

For if those who live by the law are heirs
This phrase addresses the Jewish understanding of the law as the means to righteousness and inheritance of God's promises. In the context of Romans, Paul is challenging the belief that adherence to the Mosaic Law is the path to becoming heirs of God's promises. Historically, the Jewish people were given the law at Mount Sinai, which became central to their identity and relationship with God. However, Paul argues that if inheritance were based solely on the law, it would exclude the necessity of faith. This connects toGalatians 3:18, where Paul states that the inheritance comes by promise, not by law.

faith is useless
Here, Paul emphasizes the futility of faith if the law is the means to inheritance. Faith, in the biblical sense, is trust and reliance on God and His promises. If the law could secure the promises, then faith would have no role or purpose. This reflects the broader biblical narrative that faith has always been the means by which people are justified before God, as seen in the example of Abraham inGenesis 15:6, where he believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

and the promise is worthless
The promise refers to God's covenantal promises, particularly those made to Abraham regarding his descendants and the blessing to all nations. If the law were the means to obtain these promises, then the promise itself would be nullified, as it would depend on human effort rather than God's grace. This ties into the theme of grace versus works, a central tenet in Paul's letters, and is echoed inEphesians 2:8-9, which states that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. The promise being worthless would contradict the nature of God's unchanging and faithful character, as seen throughout Scripture.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Paul the Apostle
The author of the Book of Romans, Paul is addressing the church in Rome, emphasizing the doctrine of justification by faith.

2.Abraham
Central to Paul's argument inRomans 4, Abraham is presented as the exemplar of faith, being justified by faith before the law was given.

3.The Law
Refers to the Mosaic Law given to Israel, which Paul argues cannot be the basis for inheriting God's promises.

4.The Promise
God's promise to Abraham and his descendants, which is received through faith, not by adherence to the law.

5.The Roman Church
The original audience of the letter, consisting of both Jewish and Gentile believers, who needed clarification on the role of the law and faith.

Teaching Points

Faith Over Law
Emphasize that faith, not adherence to the law, is the means by which we receive God's promises. This underscores the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross.

The Role of the Law
Understand that the law serves to reveal sin and our need for a Savior, but it is not the means of salvation.

The Assurance of the Promise
Believers can have confidence in God's promises because they are based on His faithfulness, not our ability to keep the law.

Unity in the Body of Christ
Recognize that both Jews and Gentiles are heirs of the promise through faith, promoting unity within the church.

Living by Faith
Encourage believers to live by faith daily, trusting in God's promises and His provision, rather than relying on their own efforts.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Romans 4:14?

2.How does Romans 4:14 emphasize faith over law for inheriting God's promises?

3.What role does the law play in understanding faith according to Romans 4:14?

4.How does Romans 4:14 connect with Ephesians 2:8-9 on salvation by faith?

5.How can we apply the principle of faith over law in daily life?

6.What does Romans 4:14 teach about the futility of relying on the law?

7.How does Romans 4:14 challenge the concept of faith versus law in Christianity?

8.What historical context influenced Paul's message in Romans 4:14?

9.How does Romans 4:14 relate to the promise made to Abraham?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Romans 4?

11.In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul appeals to the Old Testament law (v.9) yet speaks of being under 'Christ's law' (v.21); how can skeptics be convinced there is no conflict between these two references?

12.What is Religious Science?

13.In Romans 4:16, how can Paul unite faith, grace, and law under Abraham's example without dismissing the importance of the Mosaic Law elsewhere in Scripture?

14.Romans 14:5 - How does allowing each person to decide which day is sacred align with Old Testament mandates on the Sabbath?

What Does Romans 4:14 Mean

For if those who live by the law are heirs

- Paul is addressing the mistaken idea that inheritance of God’s blessings comes through meticulous rule-keeping.Galatians 3:18 makes the same point: “For if the inheritance depends on the law, it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.”

- The apostle has already argued inRomans 3:20 that “no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law.” If eternal life could be obtained by human performance, salvation would become a wage earned, not a gift given (Romans 4:4–5).

- By highlighting “those who live by the law” Paul includes everyone who pins their hopes on moral achievement, ceremonial observance, or ethnic heritage (comparePhilippians 3:4–9).

faith is useless

- If law-keepers could inherit, faith would have no function.Ephesians 2:8–9 underscores that “by grace you have been saved through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast.”

- Abraham’s own story illustrates this. He was declared righteous while still uncircumcised (Romans 4:10–11), showing that trust, not Torah, secures the covenant blessing.

- Turning salvation into a merit system empties faith of its very purpose—receiving what God freely offers (John 1:12;Acts 16:31).

and the promise is worthless

- God’s promise to Abraham was unconditional, rooted in divine grace, not human compliance (Genesis 15:5–6;Romans 4:16).

- If performance determined inheritance, the promise would collapse whenever someone fell short—nullifying the reliability of God’s word.Hebrews 6:17–18 assures us that God “confirmed it with an oath,” so the promise cannot be rendered void.

- Linking the promise to law would also limit it to Israel alone, butGalatians 3:29 affirms that all who belong to Christ are “heirs according to the promise.”

summary

Romans 4:14 teaches that salvation and covenant blessings cannot hinge on law-keeping. If they did, faith would have no role and God’s promise would disintegrate. By rooting our inheritance in grace through faith, the Lord safeguards both our assurance and His own unbreakable word.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14-17) This Messianic kingdom cannot have anything to do with law; for if it had, faith and the promise would cease to have any office. Faith and law cannot co-exist. They are the opposites of each other. The proper effect of law is punishment; for law only exposes sin. Faith, on the other hand, is the real key to the inheritance. It sets in motion grace; and grace, unlike law, excludes no one. It is open alike to the legal and to the spiritual descendants of Abraham; in other words (as the Scripture itself testifies), to all mankind, as the representative of whom Abraham stands before God.

(14)Is made void.--Literally,emptied of its meaning, becomes an empty name, and the promise is rendered nugatory. There is nothing left for either to do, if the votaries of law, simply as such, are to be the inheritors of the Messianic kingdom.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

For
γὰρ(gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

if
εἰ(ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487:If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

those
οἱ(hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[who live by]
ἐκ(ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[the] Law
νόμου(nomou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551:From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.

[are] heirs,
κληρονόμοι(klēronomoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2818:From kleros and the base of nomos (reflexively) getting by apportionment); a sharer by lot, i.e. Inheritor; by implication, a possessor.

faith
πίστις(pistis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102:Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

is useless
κεκένωται(kekenōtai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2758:(a) I empty, (b) I deprive of content, make unreal. From kenos; to make empty, i.e. to abase, neutralize, falsify.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

the
ἡ(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

promise
ἐπαγγελία(epangelia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1860:A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.

is worthless,
κατήργηται(katērgētai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2673:From kata and argeo; to be entirely idle, literally or figuratively.

Links

Romans 4:14 NIV
Romans 4:14 NLT
Romans 4:14 ESV
Romans 4:14 NASB
Romans 4:14 KJV

Romans 4:14 BibleApps.com
Romans 4:14 Biblia Paralela
Romans 4:14 Chinese Bible
Romans 4:14 French Bible
Romans 4:14 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Romans 4:14 For if those who are (Rom. Ro)