ACC ~ Romans 4 v4

DISTINGUISHING GRACE AND JUSTICE. ORIGEN: Faith relies on the grace of the justifier. Works rely on the justice of the rewarder. When I consider the greatness of Paul’s speech, by which he says that the worker receives what is due to him, I can hardly persuade myself that there is any deed which could claim a reward from God as its due. … Therefore, it seems that Paul is really referring here to evil deeds, of which Scripture frequently says that they get their due reward. CoMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

HE BELIEVES WHAT HE DOES NOT SEE. AMBROSIASTER: No merit is imputed for reward to the man who is subject to the law—either to the law of works, i.e., of Moses, or to the law of nature. For he who is obliged to keep the law is a debtor. A necessity is imposed upon him by the law to keep it whether he wants to or not, so as not to be guilty, as Paul says in another passage: “Those who resist will incur judgment.” On the other hand, to believe or not to believe is a matter of choice. No one can be required to accept something which is offered as a gift. But he is invited to receive it. He is not forced but persuaded. He believes what he does not see but hopes for. This is what glorifies God. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

WAGES RECKONED AS DUE. AUGUSTINE: Paul was speaking here of the way wages are given. But God gave by grace, because he gave to sinners so that by faith they might live justly, that is, do good works. Thus the good works which we do after we have received grace are not to be attributed to us but rather to him who has justified us by his grace. For if God had wanted to give us our due reward, he would have given us the punishment due to sinners. AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 21.

PELAGIUS: An employee must do as he is told, and unless he complies he is dismissed. But if he does what he is told, he has no glory, because a servant who does no more than what he has to is still called unprofitable. Or else he is not given righteousness freely but is paid a wage for prior work. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS.

DISTINGUISHING GIFT AND REWARD. THEODORET OF CYR: The doer of righteousness expects a reward, but justification by faith is the gift of the God of all. INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

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