SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:16
Por tanto, por la fe, para que sea por gracia; para que la promesa sea firme a toda simiente, no solamente al que es de la ley, sino tambin al que es de la fe de Abraham, el cual es padre de todos nosotros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 4:16
Verse 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace] On this account the promise is mercifully grounded, not on obedience to a law, but on the infinite goodness of God: and thus the promise is sure to all the seed-to all, both Jews and Gentiles, who, believing in Christ Jesus, have a right to all the blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant. All the seed necessarily comprehends all mankind. Of the Gentiles there can be no doubt, for the promise was given to Abraham while he was a Gentile; and the salvation of the Jews may be inferred, because they all sprang from him after he became an heir of the righteousness or justification which is received by faith; for he is the father of us all, both Jews and Gentiles. Dr. Taylor has an excellent note on this verse. "Here," says he, "it should be well observed that faith and grace do mutually and necessarily infer each other. For the grace and favour of God, in its own nature, requires faith in us; and faith on our part, in its own nature, supposes the grace or favour of God. If any blessing is the gift of God, in order to influence our temper and behaviour, then, in the very nature of things, it is necessary that we be sensible of this blessing, and persuaded of the grace of God that bestows it; otherwise it is not possible we should improve it. On the other hand, if faith in the goodness of God, with regard to any blessing, is the principle of our religious hopes and action, then it follows that the blessing is not due in strict justice, nor on the foot of law, but that it is the free gift of Divine goodness. If the promise to Abraham and his seed be of faith on their part, then it is of grace on the part of God. And it is of faith, that it might be by grace: grace, being the mere good will of the donor, is free and open to all whom he chooses to make the objects of it: and the Divine wisdom appointed faith to be the condition of the promise; because faith is, on our part, the most simple principle, bearing an exact correspondence to grace, and reaching as far as that can extend; that so the happy effects of the promise might extend far and wide, take in the largest compass, and be confined to no condition, but what is merely necessary in the nature of things."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace , etc..] Meaning either the promise of being heir of the world, or the inheritance itself, or adoption which gives heirship, or remission of Sin, or the blessing of justification, either and all of these are of faith; not as the cause or condition of them, but as the means of God's fixing and appointing to be the recipient of all and each of them: which is done, that it might be by grace; appear to be of the free grace and favour of God, as each of these blessings are: forasmuch as every blessing is received by faith, it is manifest it must be by grace; since faith itself is a gift of God's grace, and lies purely in receiving favours at the hand of God, to whom it gives all the glory of them: and this is done with a further view, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed . The promise of the above blessings, particularly of the inheritance which is made in the covenant of grace, ordered in all things and sure, and which could not be disannulled by the law that came after it; this being by faith and of grace, and not of works, nor at all depending upon them, becomes sure to all believers, to all Abraham's spiritual seed: not to that only which is of the law ; to the Jews, who are said to be of the law, in distinction to the Gentiles who were without it; and designs such of them as were believers in Christ, and to whom the Gospel was the power of God unto salvation; to these the promise was, and was sure, and not to them only: but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham ; to the Gentiles, who though they are not by natural descent from Abraham, yet are of the same faith with him, and so are his seed in a spiritual sense: who is the father of us all ; whether Jews or Gentiles, who are Christ's, and so Abraham's spiritual seed, and heirs of eternal life, according to the free promise of grace.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-22 - The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points a Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showin that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointe it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like precious faith with Abraham, whether Jews of Gentiles, in all ages. The justification and salvation of sinners, the taking to himself the Gentiles who had not been a people, were gracious calling of things which are not, as though they were; and thi giving a being to things that were not, proves the almighty power of God. The nature and power of Abraham's faith are shown. He believe God's testimony, and looked for the performance of his promise, firml hoping when the case seemed hopeless. It is weakness of faith, tha makes a man lie poring on the difficulties in the way of a promise Abraham took it not for a point that would admit of argument or debate Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God's promises. The strength of faith appeared in its victory over fears. God honour faith; and great faith honours God. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Faith is a grace that of all others gives glory to God Faith clearly is the instrument by which we receive the righteousnes of God, the redemption which is by Christ; and that which is the instrument whereby we take or receive it, cannot be the thing itself nor can it be the gift thereby taken and received. Abraham's faith di not justify him by its own merit or value, but as giving him a part in Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
δια 1223 PREP τουτο 5124 D-ASN εκ 1537 PREP πιστεως 4102 N-GSF ινα 2443 CONJ κατα 2596 PREP χαριν 5485 N-ASF εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN ειναι 1511 5750 V-PXN βεβαιαν 949 A-ASF την 3588 T-ASF επαγγελιαν 1860 N-ASF παντι 3956 A-DSN τω 3588 T-DSN σπερματι 4690 N-DSN ου 3756 PRT-N τω 3588 T-DSN εκ 1537 PREP του 3588 T-GSM νομου 3551 N-GSM μονον 3440 ADV αλλα 235 CONJ και 2532 CONJ τω 3588 T-DSN εκ 1537 PREP πιστεως 4102 N-GSF αβρααμ 11 N-PRI ος 3739 R-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S πατηρ 3962 N-NSM παντων 3956 A-GPM ημων 2257 P-1GP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Sure (bebaian). Stable, valid, something realized, the opposite of made of none effect, ver. 14.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:16 {Of faith} (ek pistews). As the source. {According to grace} (kata carin). As the pattern. {To the end that} (eis to einai). Purpose again as in #11. {Sure} (bebaian). Stable, fast, firm. Old adjective from bainw, to walk. {Not to that only which is of the law} (ou twi ek tou nomou monon). Another instance where monon (see verse #12) seems in the wrong place. Normally the order would be, ou monon t"i ek tou nomou, alla kai ktl.
