Teks -- Romans 4:2 (NET)

4:2 For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about– but not before God.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Rom 4:2 - The Scripture

The Scripture ( hē graphē ).

Gen 15:6.

Robertson: Rom 4:2 - Was justified by works

Was justified by works ( ex ergōn edikaiōthē ).

Condition of first class, assumed as true for the sake of argument, though untrue in fact. The rabbis had a doctrine of the merits of Abraham who had a superfluity of credits to pass on to the Jews (Luk 3:8).

Robertson: Rom 4:2 - But not towards God

But not towards God ( all' ou pros theon ).

Abraham deserved all the respect from men that came to him, but his relation to God was a different matter. He had there no ground of boasting at all.

Vincent: Rom 4:2 - For

For

Supply , Abraham found nothing according to the flesh ; for , if he did, he has something to boast of.

Vincent: Rom 4:2 - By works

By works ( ἐξ ἔργων )

Lit., out of works. In speaking of the relation of works to justification, Paul never uses διά by or through , but ἐκ out of ; works being regarded by the Jew as the meritorious source of salvation.

Wesley: Rom 4:2

The meaning is, If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had room to glory. But he had not room to glory. Therefore he was not justified by works.

JFB: Rom 4:1-3 - What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

That is, (as the order in the original shows), "hath found, as pertaining to ('according to,' or 'through') the flesh"; meaning, "by all his natural efforts or legal obedience."

JFB: Rom 4:2 - For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God

"If works were the ground of Abraham's justification, he would have matter for boasting; but as it is perfectly certain that he hath none in the sight of God, it follows that Abraham could not have been justified by works." And to this agree the words of Scripture.

Clarke: Rom 4:2 - For if Abraham were justified by works

For if Abraham were justified by works - The Jew proceeds: - I conclude, therefore, that Abraham was justified by works, or by his obedience to this law of circumcision; and, consequently, he has cause for glorying, καυχημα, to exult in something which he has done to entitle him to these blessings. Now, it is evident that he has this glorying, and consequently that he was justified by works

Clarke: Rom 4:2 - Apostle. But not before God

Apostle. But not before God - These seem to be the apostle’ s words, and contain the beginning of his answer to the arguments of the Jew, as if he had said: - Allowing that Abraham might glory in being called from heathenish darkness into such marvellous light, and exult in the privileges which God had granted to him; yet this glorying was not before God as a reason why those privileges should be granted; the glorying itself being a consequence of these very privileges.

Calvin: Rom 4:2 - NO PHRASE

2.=== For if Abraham, === etc. This is an incomplete argument, ¹³¹ which may be made in this form — “If Abraham was justified by works, he might justly glory: but he had nothing for which he could glory before God; then he was not justified by works.” Thus the clause but not before God, is the minor proposition; and to this must be added the conclusion which I have stated, though it is not expressed by Paul. He calls that glorying when we pretend to have anything of our own to which a reward is supposed to be due at God’s tribunal. Since he takes this away from Abraham, who of us can claim for himself the least particle of merit?

Defender: Rom 4:2 - justified by works

The supposed contradiction between Paul and James has been widely noted. Paul says Abraham was not justified by works; James says he was (Jam 2:21). The point is that Abraham was justified by faith in God's Word, but he then was asked to demonstrate that his faith was genuine by his works. He was justified before God by faith but was justified before men by his works (Jam 2:21-24)."

TSK: Rom 4:2 - Abraham // he hath // but

Abraham : Rom 3:20-28; Phi 3:9

he hath : Rom 3:27, Rom 15:17; Eze 8:9; Jer 9:23, Jer 9:24; 1Co 9:16; 2Co 5:12, 2Co 11:12, 2Co 11:30; 2Co 12:1-9; Gal 6:13, Gal 6:14; Eph 2:9

but : Gen 12:12, Gen 12:13, Gen 12:18, Gen 12:20, Gen 20:9-13; Jos 24:2; 1Co 1:29, 1Co 4:7; Gal 3:22

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Rom 4:2 - He hath whereof to glory // But not before God

He hath whereof to glory he hath cause or matter of glorying and boasting; he hath something from whence he may take occasion of so doing.

But not before God something must be supplied to fill up the sense, i.e. he hath nothing whereof to glory before God. The argument of the apostle might be thus formed: If Abraham had obtained justification by works, he should have had somewhat whereof he might glory before God: but he had nothing whereof to glory before God; therefore he was not justified by works. God’ s way of justifying sinners is such, as shuts out all glorying and boasting, as he had before laid down, Rom 3:27 .

Haydock: Rom 4:2 - If Abraham were justified by works // Not with God

If Abraham were justified by works, or by his own works, he might have glory, and be commended by men, who judge only according to outward appearances; but not with God: that is, he could not be truly justified, so as to deserve a reward in heaven, without faith and the grace of God. (Witham) ---

Not with God. Whatever glory or applause such works might procure from men, they would be of no value in the sight of God. (Challoner)

Gill: Rom 4:2 - For if Abraham were justified by works // he hath whereof to glory // but not before God

For if Abraham were justified by works,.... That Abraham was not, and could not be justified by works, is clear from hence, that if this was his case,

he hath whereof to glory; which will be allowed him before men, on account of his pious life and conversation:

but not before God; who saw all the iniquity of his heart, and was privy to all his failings and infirmities: besides, glorying before God in a man's own works, is contrary to the scheme and method of God's grace; is excluded by the doctrine of faith; nor is there any place for glorying before God but in Christ, and his righteousness: if therefore Abraham had not that of which he could glory before God, he could not be justified by works in his sight: but does not the Apostle James say that he was justified by works, Jam 2:21? To this it may be replied, that the two apostles, Paul and James, are not speaking of the same thing: Paul speaks of justification before God, James of justification before men; Paul speaks of the justification of the person, James of the justification of a man's cause, as the truth of his faith, or the uprightness of his conduct; Paul speaks of works, as the causes of justification, James of them as the effects and evidences of faith; Paul had to do with the self-righteous, who trusted in their own works for justification, James with Gnostics, who slighted and neglected the performance of them. These things considered, they will be found to agree.