Romans 4:14
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Original Language Analysis
γὰρ
For
G1063
γὰρ
For
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
2 of 13
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐκ
they which are of
G1537
ἐκ
they which are of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
4 of 13
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
νόμου
the law
G3551
νόμου
the law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
5 of 13
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
κληρονόμοι
be heirs
G2818
κληρονόμοι
be heirs
Strong's:
G2818
Word #:
6 of 13
a sharer by lot, i.e., inheritor (literally or figuratively); by implication, a possessor
κεκένωται
is made void
G2758
κεκένωται
is made void
Strong's:
G2758
Word #:
7 of 13
to make empty, i.e., (figuratively) to abase, neutralize, falsify
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστις
faith
G4102
πίστις
faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
9 of 13
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
10 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κατήργηται
made of none effect
G2673
κατήργηται
made of none effect
Strong's:
G2673
Word #:
11 of 13
to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively
Cross References
Hebrews 7:19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.Hebrews 7:28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.Isaiah 55:11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.Romans 4:16Therefore 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,Romans 3:31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.Galatians 2:21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.Philippians 3:9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Historical Context
The debate over whether Gentiles must keep Torah to be saved was tearing apart the early church. Paul demonstrates that introducing law-keeping as a requirement doesn't just add a condition—it fundamentally transforms the nature of the covenant from promise to contract, from grace to works, making both faith and promise meaningless. This parallels his argument in Galatians 3:15-18.
Questions for Reflection
- Why are faith and law-based inheritance mutually exclusive rather than complementary, according to Paul?
- How does making inheritance conditional on law-keeping change the nature of God's promise into something else entirely?
- What promises of God do we effectively nullify by treating them as conditional on our performance?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Paul poses a hypothetical syllogism: if inheritance comes ek nomou (ἐκ νόμου, "from law"), then two catastrophic consequences follow. First, kekenōtai hē pistis (κεκένωται ἡ πίστις, "faith has been emptied/made void"). The perfect tense indicates permanent voiding—faith would be rendered meaningless as a category. If law-works secure inheritance, then faith is superfluous decoration, not the instrumental means of receiving the promise.
Second, katērgētai hē epaggelia (κατήργηται ἡ ἐπαγγελία, "the promise has been nullified/abolished"). Again the perfect tense: the promise would stand permanently abolished. Why? Because a promise that depends on the promisee's performance is not really a promise but a contract or wage (cf. v. 4). God's covenant with Abraham was promissory, not contractual—"I will" not "if you will." To introduce law as a condition empties both faith (as the receiving instrument) and promise (as the giving mode) of meaning. Grace and works are incompatible bases for inheritance.