Romans 4:2

2 For if Abraham is justified of works of the law, he hath glory, but not with God.

Romans 4:2 Meaning and Commentary

Romans 4:2

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, ( James 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.

Romans 4:2 In-Context

1 What then shall we say, that Abraham our father after the flesh found?

2 For if Abraham is justified of works of the law, he hath glory, but not with God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed to God, and it was areckoned [reckoned] to him to rightwiseness.

4 And to him that worketh meed is not areckoned by grace [is not given to, or reckoned, after grace], but by debt.

5 Soothly to him that worketh not, but believeth into him that justifieth a wicked man, his faith is areckoned to rightwiseness [+But to him that worketh not, but believing into him that justifieth the wicked man, or unpious, his faith is reckoned to rightwiseness], after the purpose of God's grace.