Romans 4:11

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 of that faith which was in his uncircumcision: i.e. "the righteousness (Romans 1:17) connected with the faith which he exercised in the days of his uncircumcision." For a passage illustrative of the words "the righteousness of the faith" see Philippians 3:9; "the righteousness which is through faith of (in) Christ, the righteousness granted from God on condition of faith."

that he might be, &c. This refers to the whole previous immediate context. Q. d., "It was divinely ordained that Abraham's justification should precede his circumcision, and so that his circumcision should not conveybut attesthis justification, in order that his relationship to allthe believing, Gentiles and Jews, might stand clear of the circumcision-covenant."

the father The progenitor; in a sense figurative but quite natural. It implies here not only priority in time and example, but that Abraham received a blessing which was the title-deed of inheritanceto all who should "walk in the steps of his faith." On the doctrine of this great spiritual Fatherhood cp. Galatians 3:7; Galatians 3:9; and see Matthew 3:9; John 8:39; Galatians 6:16.

them that believe, though, &c. Lit. them that believe through uncircumcision. The Gr. idiom indicates merely the state in and under which the belief is exercised.

righteousness Lit. the righteousness; i.e. perhaps "the righteousness in question, that which is by faith."