Romans 4:1-11

Romans 4:1 a. The Example of Abraham.

Romans 4:1. The Jewish objector once more: What about Abraham then? (mg.); if the circumcised Israelite is justified on no more favourable terms than the Gentile outsider, how was it with our great forefather? Abraham's case was the instantia probans for Jewish theology.

Romans 4:2 f. If Abraham had been justified by works, Paul replies, he has ground of glorying; but however great his glory amongst men, he has none Godwards, Nay, Scripture says, But Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness (cf. Galatians 3:6 f.).

Romans 4:4 f. Arguing on this text in the sense of Romans 3:27 f., Paul contrasts the worker claiming his pay of debt with the believer to whom, ungodly as he doubtless had been, righteousness is credited on terms of faith, by way of grace.

Romans 4:6. The patriarch's experience resembled that stated in Psalms 32, the blessedness of the man to whom the Lord will no longer impute sin.

Romans 4:9 a. Now, the sentence of justification was pronounced on Abraham before his circumcision. This ceremony was not the basis of a righteousness acquired by works, but the seal set upon the righteousness conferred through faith. Faith antedates Circumcision, as it underlies the Law (cf. Galatians 3:17). Circumcision was properly a sacrament of faith.