B. THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM (Ch. 4) Bp Lightfoot (_Ep. to the Galatians_, detached note to ch. 3) makes it very probable that "at the time of the Christian era the passage in Genesis relating to Abraham's faith had become a standard text in the Jewish schools … and that the interest thus concentrated... [ Continue Reading ]
Romans 4:1-25. Abraham, an apparent exception to the rule of gratuitous acceptance, really the great example of it 1. _What shall we say then?_&c. Here a new and independent objection is anticipated. Abraham, the great Head of the Old Covenant, would be appealed to by the Jew, as on the assumption... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ Q. d., "the question is asked, because if the answer is _yes_, Abraham stands in a position of independence before God." _by works_ Lit. OUT OF WORKS; in consequence of them. _he hath_ "As he stands before us in Scripture;" a frequent and natural use of the present tense. _whereof to glory_... [ Continue Reading ]
_what saith the scripture?_ See on Romans 1:17. _Abraham believed_, &c. Lit. BUT ABRAHAM BELIEVED, &c. The particle is, perhaps, significant; emphasizing the verb. The Gr. is verbatim from LXX. of Genesis 15:6, save that "_but_" is "_and_" in LXX. See by all means Genesis 15:5-6, as a leading illus... [ Continue Reading ]
_to him that worketh_, &c. A general principle and fact, instanced here with special reference to human obedience to the Law of God. The terms of the Law are tacitly compared to a human contract, with definite pay for definite work. _of grace_ Lit. ACCORDING TO GRACE; "on the principle of undeserve... [ Continue Reading ]
_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... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even as David also_ In Psalms 32. This quotation is specially to the point, being not only an inspired statement of truth, but made by one who had been guilty of deep "ungodliness," and had himself experienced justification under that condition. "_Also:_" i.e. as well as Moses in Genesis. Romans 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed_, &c. The Gr. is verbatim from LXX. It is worth remarking that the words (in the Psalm) following this quotation ("and in whose spirit is no guile") are in full accord with its application here. The "guile" there is evidently "_insincerity_in coming as a penitent to God." The "blessed" are... [ Continue Reading ]
_will not impute_ i.e. at any time of enquiry and judgment that may arise. They "shall not come into condemnation." (John 5:24.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cometh this blessedness_, &c. Here the reference to David's words merges again into the main argument from Abraham's case. This is indicated by the word "then." The literal rendering of this verse is, THIS ASSERTION OF BLESSEDNESS THEREFORE DOES IT CONCERN THE CIRCUMCISION, OR THE UNCIRCUMCISION AS... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not in circumcision_ Genesis 15 precedes Genesis 17 by at least fourteen years.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sign of circumcision_ i.e. circumcision as a physical mark to denote the accomplished fact of justification. _a seal of the righteousness_ A formal, legal attestation that He who prescribed the rite held to His grant already made. _the righteousness of the faith_, &c. Lit. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS O... [ Continue Reading ]
_of circumcision_ Practically = OF THE CIRCUMCISION; (see last note on Romans 1:4). Abraham is here said to be the (spiritual) Father of the circumcision; i.e. of the circumcised; and then at once this is limited to the _believing_circumcised. _to them who_ i.e. "to the benefit of those who, &c." T... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the promise_, &c. Here again the Gr. order is emphatic: FOR NOT THROUGH THE LAW CAME THE PROMISE, &C. _that he should be the heir_ Perhaps better, NAMELY, HIS BEING: HEIR, in apposition with "the promise." The promise made him _heir at once_, and foretold actual possession. The Gr. word render... [ Continue Reading ]
_of the law_ Lit. OUT OF THE LAW. On the Gr. construction see on Romans 3:26 (_ad finem_). "_Law_" here is without article, and _possibly_its reference is general; q. d. "If those who in any sense claim on grounds of _a law_, &c." But it is far better to read (in _English_) "_the_law." The lack of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_the law worketh wrath: for_ "For" indicates that this statement confirms that just made, namely, that inheritance by law must bar the fulfilment of the promise. "The faith" in question was said to be "reckoned for righteousness" to the believer; "the promise" in question was that that believer, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore_, &c. Lit. THEREFORE OUT OF FAITH, THAT ACCORDING TO GRACE; a singularly terse sentence even in Gr. "_Therefore:_" q. d., "such being the case under Law, the Divine mercy _acted accordingly_on our behalf." The clause may be expanded: "Therefore God took faith as the one condition of justi... [ Continue Reading ]
_as it is written_ Genesis 17:5, when the name Abraham was given. Cp. the remarkable phrase of Galatians 3:8, where Scripture is, as it were, identified with its Inspirer, and the words of Genesis are distinctly claimed as a prophecy of the Gospel. It is a shallow criticism that objects that _Moses_... [ Continue Reading ]
_against hope … in hope_ Lit. BEYOND HOPE … UPON HOPE. Here perhaps the first is subjective hope, the second objective. Abraham was asked to believe in a way which went _beyond_all mere impressions of probability; but he rested _upon_the "hope set before him" by the Divine promise, and believed. _t... [ Continue Reading ]
_being not weak_ i.e., at that crisis; so the Gr. implies. _Under that strain_he did not succumb; in faith he rose to the effort. _he considered not_ So as to distract his view of the fact of the Promise. He was conscious of the physical impossibility (at least in Genesis 17:17), but he looked away... [ Continue Reading ]
_he staggered not_, &c. The Gr. suggests the paraphrase; "he looked away from his own physical state, only at the Promise, and did not doubt its terms just because they were the Promise. So he rose in a great effort and exercise of faith, which consisted in giving glory to God (the -glory" of absolu... [ Continue Reading ]
_And therefore_, &c. This quality of faith _accounts_for its imputation in justification.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now_, &c. In this ver. and 24, 25, St Paul sums up this part of his argument; the proof from Abraham's case. He shews its full applicability to those who now likewise "give glory" to the same God by like absolute trust in respect of His explicit Promise of Justification, a Promise finally sealed by... [ Continue Reading ]
_for us also_ Lit. ALSO BECAUSE OF US; "because we were to be likewise dealt with, and therefore needed to know it." _shall be_ Lit., fully, IS ABOUT TO BE. The reference of the _futurity_is to the abiding _intention_of the Justifier. Justification is, individually, _present_on condition of belief;... [ Continue Reading ]
_delivered_ As the Victim. Cp. Romans 8:32. Here the Father delivers up His Son. In Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:2, &c.; we have the self-surrender of the Son. See Psalms 40:8-9, for the union of the two truths. "Lo, I come; … _I delight_to do _Thy will_." _for our offences_ Lit. BECAUSE OF OUR OFFE... [ Continue Reading ]