King James Version

What Does Romans 4:24 Mean?

Romans 4:24 in the King James Version says “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; — study this verse from Romans chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

Romans 4:24 · KJV


Context

22

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Paul makes the explicit connection: the imputation declared over Abraham extends alla kai di' hēmas (ἀλλὰ καὶ δι' ἡμᾶς, "but also because of us"). The relative clause hois mellei logizesthai (οἷς μέλλει λογίζεσθαι, "to whom it is about to be reckoned") uses the future tense, pointing to eschatological justification at the final judgment—though for believers this is certain. The condition: pisteuousin epi ton egeiranta Iēsoun (πιστεύουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν ἐγείραντα Ἰησοῦν, "believing upon the one who raised Jesus").

Notice the parallel: Abraham believed God who gives life to the dead (v. 17); we believe God who raised Jesus from the dead. The impossible birth of Isaac from the dead womb typologically points to the resurrection of Christ from the tomb. Abraham's faith in God's life-creating power prefigures Christian faith in God's resurrection power. Both trust God to bring life from death, promise from impossibility. Ton kyrion hēmōn (τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν, "our Lord") identifies Jesus as sovereign—Thomas's confession in John 20:28, the earliest Christian creed.

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Historical & Cultural Context

In the first century, resurrection was the ultimate impossibility—'once dead, always dead' was philosophical consensus. The claim that God raised Jesus was as scandalous and impossible-sounding as the claim that Abraham and Sarah would have a child in their nineties. Paul presents resurrection faith as the Christian equivalent to Abrahamic faith—trusting God to do what nature declares impossible, based on His promise and power.

Reflection Questions

  1. How is Abraham's faith in God giving life to Sarah's dead womb parallel to Christian faith in Jesus's resurrection?
  2. Why does Paul emphasize believing in 'God who raised Jesus' rather than just 'believing in Jesus'?
  3. What does it reveal about justifying faith that it centers on resurrection—life from death—rather than moral improvement?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 18 words
ἀλλὰ1 of 18

But

G235

properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

καὶ2 of 18

also

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

δι'3 of 18

for

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

ἡμᾶς4 of 18

us

G2248

us

οἷς5 of 18

to whom

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

μέλλει6 of 18

it shall be

G3195

to intend, i.e., be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probabili

λογίζεσθαι7 of 18

imputed

G3049

to take an inventory, i.e., estimate (literally or figuratively)

τοῖς8 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πιστεύουσιν9 of 18

if we believe

G4100

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

ἐπὶ10 of 18

on

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

τὸν11 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἐγείραντα12 of 18

him that raised up

G1453

to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from

Ἰησοῦν13 of 18

Jesus

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

τὸν14 of 18
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

κύριον15 of 18

Lord

G2962

supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)

ἡμῶν16 of 18

our

G2257

of (or from) us

ἐκ17 of 18

from

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

νεκρῶν18 of 18

the dead

G3498

dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Romans. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Romans 4:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Romans 4:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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