Daniel McKinlay on Some of the Changes made to Romans 4 in the JST

  

 

Rom 4:2-5 (KJV)	NT MSS, p. 123	1867 Inspired Version (RLDS)
(2) For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. (3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.	Verse [2nd] For if Abraham were justified by the law of works, he hath to glory in himself; but not of God [5]<4>th But now Now to him who is justified by the law of works is is reconed <the reward> reckoned, not of grace, but of debt. =5th But to him that seeketh not to be justified by the law of works, but beleiveth on him who justifieth not the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.	2 For if Abraham were justified by the law of works, he hath to glory in himself; but not of God.  3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  4 Now to him who is justified by the law of works, is the reward reckoned, not of grace, but of debt.  5 But to him that seeketh not to be justified by the law of works, but believeth on him who justifieth not the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

 

 

Rom 4:2:

 

JST “For if Abraham were justified by the law of works, he hath to glory in himself; but not of God.” The JST frequently alters “works” to “law of works.” (Daniel McKinlay, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans,” in Footnotes to the New Testament for Latter-day Saints, ed. Kevin L. Barney, 2 vols. [2007], 2:18 n. h)

 

Rom 4:4:

 

JST “Now to him who is justified by the law of works, is the reward reckoned, not of grace, but of God.” This clarifies Paul’s meaning that if we were justified by our works, then it would mean that God owed us salvation and it would by no means be a gift. (Daniel McKinlay, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans,” in Footnotes to the New Testament for Latter-day Saints, ed. Kevin L. Barney, 2 vols. [2007], 2:18-19 m. j)

 

 

Rom 4:16 (KJV)	NT MSS, p. 123	1867 Inspired Version (RLDS)
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.	16th and— ye are justified— <— them—> of works— them— them	Therefore ye are justified of faith and works, through grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to them only who are of the law, but to them also who are of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all

 

 

JST “Therefore ye are justified of faith and works, through grace,” This does not entirely follow logically from what Paul has said hitherto, but the Prophet was trying to avoid a dangerous inference from Paul’s words—that our works are utterly irrelevant. For Paul, our works are a manifestation of our faith as we devote ourselves to God. Justification isn’t a matter of reward for our works; no matter how well we do, we never do well enough to put God into our debt and make Him owe us anything. (Daniel McKinlay, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans,” in Footnotes to the New Testament for Latter-day Saints, ed. Kevin L. Barney, 2 vols. [2007], 2:20 n. a)