Romans 4:5 (KJV)

What does Romans 4:5 mean?

Romans 4:5 says that a person who does not rely on their own efforts or good deeds, but instead trusts in God—the one who declares even the ungodly to be right with Him—has their faith counted as righteousness. This means that it is faith, not works, that God recognizes as making someone right before Him.

Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome, explaining how people are made right with God. He uses Abraham as an example to show that righteousness comes through faith, not by following religious laws or doing good works. Romans 4:5 highlights that God justifies even those who have not lived righteously, if they trust in Him.

The Greek behind Romans 4:5

• "justifieth" (δικαιόω, dikaioō): This word means to declare someone righteous or in right standing. In this verse, it emphasizes that God is the one who makes the decision to count someone as righteous, regardless of their past.
• "ungodly" (ἀσεβής, asebēs): This term refers to people who are irreligious or morally wrong. Paul’s use of it underscores that God’s acceptance is not limited to the morally upright but extends even to those considered far from God.
• "faith" (πίστις, pistis): This word means trust or belief. Here, it is the act of relying on God rather than on one’s own actions.
• "counted" (λογίζομαι, logizomai): This word means to reckon, credit, or consider. Paul uses it to show that God credits faith as if it were righteousness, treating the believer as if they are right with Him.

Why Romans 4:5 matters

• Romans 4:5 clarifies that being accepted by God is not about earning it through good deeds, but about trusting in God’s grace.
• The verse challenges the common idea that only the morally upright can be right with God, showing that even those who have failed can be justified through faith.
• This teaching connects to Paul’s larger argument in Romans that both Jews and Gentiles are made right with God in the same way—by faith, not by works—making the gospel open to everyone.