Romans 4:5

to him that worketh not The Gr. implies a general statement; Abraham's case in universal application. "Worketh not:" i.e., of course, in respect of justification. It is another form of the truth expressed Romans 3:28 and Romans 4:6 by "without works;" and the phrases singly and together go as far as language can in defining faith to be the solecondition of Justification.

on him that justifieth the ungodly These words, with numberless others, remind us that justifying faith is not trust in "anything," but trust in God and His Word. See below on Romans 4:20-22. "The ungodly:" a very strong word the impious man. Same word as ch. Romans 5:6; 2 Peter 2:5; Judges 4, &c. Here St Paul leaves the special features of Abraham's case, to enforce the principle of Justification by an extremecase. He contemplates a man so emphatically "without works" as to be an open sinner: now, thisman is justified, is declared to be accepted as righteous, on the sole condition of faith in the Justifier. And God is, as it were, characterizedhere as He who (habitually) so acts; doubtless to encourage the most unreserved trust. The word "ungodly" is not descriptive of every man: "all have sinned" fatally (Romans 3:19; Romans 3:23); but not all are openly impious. And as men look on these latter as extreme cases, just these are selected for special mention as proper objects of Justification.