Romans 4:16

¹⁴ For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

¹⁵ because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
KJV: Therefore 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,
WEB: For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, 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.
ASV: For this cause [it is] of faith, that [it may be] according to grace; to the end that the promise may 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
DARBY: Therefore [it is] on the principle of faith, that [it might be] according to grace, in order to the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that only which [is] of the law, but to that also which [is] of Abraham's faith, who is father of us all,
BLB: Because of this [it is] of faith, so that [it may be] according to grace for the promise to be sure to all the seed, not only to that of the law, but also to that of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

ÅB: Derfor fikk han løftet ved troen, så det kunne være av nåde; så løftet kunne stå fast for hele slekten, og ikke bare for den som har loven, men også for den som har samme tro som Abraham, han som er far til oss alle
OTB: Derfor er løftet basert på tro, så det kan hvile på nåde og være sikkert for alle Abrahams etterkommere—ikke bare for dem som er av loven, men også for dem som deler Abrahams tro. Han er far til oss alle.
B1930: Derfor fikk han løftet ved troen, forat det kunde være som en nåde, så løftet kunde stå fast for hele ætten, ikke bare for den som har loven, men også for den som har Abrahams tro, han som er far til oss alle

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Romans 3:24–26
and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Read in context
Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Read in context
Romans 9:8
So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.
Read in context
Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
Read in context
Titus 3:7
so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Read in context
Isaiah 51:2
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.
Read in context
Romans 15:8
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
Read in context
Ephesians 2:5
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
Read in context