Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Original Language Analysis
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μὴ
not
G3361
μὴ
not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
3 of 17
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
ἐργαζομένῳ
to him that worketh
G2038
ἐργαζομένῳ
to him that worketh
Strong's:
G2038
Word #:
4 of 17
to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc
πιστεύοντι
believeth
G4100
πιστεύοντι
believeth
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
5 of 17
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
ἐπὶ
on
G1909
ἐπὶ
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
7 of 17
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δικαιοῦντα
him that justifieth
G1344
δικαιοῦντα
him that justifieth
Strong's:
G1344
Word #:
9 of 17
to render (i.e., show or regard as) just or innocent
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀσεβῆ
the ungodly
G765
ἀσεβῆ
the ungodly
Strong's:
G765
Word #:
11 of 17
irreverent, i.e., (by extension) impious or wicked
λογίζεται
is counted
G3049
λογίζεται
is counted
Strong's:
G3049
Word #:
12 of 17
to take an inventory, i.e., estimate (literally or figuratively)
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστις
faith
G4102
πίστις
faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
14 of 17
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
αὐτοῦ
his
G846
αὐτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
15 of 17
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
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:Romans 3:22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:Romans 10:3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.John 6:29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.John 5:24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.Romans 4:3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.Habakkuk 2:4Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Historical Context
Jewish theology distinguished between the righteous and the wicked, with God vindicating the former and judging the latter. For Paul to claim that God justifies the ungodly overturns this moral calculus—unless Christ's atoning death satisfies both divine justice and divine mercy. This would have been Paul's most controversial claim: that Gentile sinners and Torah-less people could be declared righteous through faith alone.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it reveal about the gospel that God justifies 'the ungodly' rather than rewarding the righteous?
- How does this verse define what faith is—not meritorious work but trust in the God who justifies sinners?
- Why is it so difficult for religious people to accept that justification comes to those who do 'not work' but believe?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Paul now states positively what he established negatively: the one not working (mē ergazomenō, μὴ ἐργαζομένῳ) but believing has faith credited as righteousness. The object of faith is crucial: ton dikaiounta ton asebē (τὸν δικαιοῦντα τὸν ἀσεβῆ, "the one justifying the ungodly"). This phrase would have been scandalous—Exodus 23:7 and Proverbs 17:15 explicitly condemn justifying the wicked. Yet Paul declares God does precisely this!
The resolution is Christ's substitutionary atonement: God maintains his justice by punishing sin in Christ, while simultaneously justifying sinners who trust in Christ. The "ungodly" (asebēs, ἀσεβής) are those without inherent righteousness, the impious—yet these are the objects of God's justifying grace. This is the gospel's scandal: God declares righteous those who are in themselves unrighteous, based on faith in the One who bore their sin. Abraham models this: he believed while still uncircumcised (v. 10), before proving his faith through Isaac (Gen 22).