Romans 4:22

Vv. 22 sums up the whole development relating to Abraham's faith, Romans 4:1-21, to clear the way for the final application which Paul had in view. Διό, wherefore, refers to what has just been said of the confidence with which Abraham laid hold of God's promise, Romans 4:21. God ascribed to that confidence which glorified Him the worth of perfect righteousness. The καί, also (“wherefore also”), found in the Alex. and Byz. Mjj., points to the moral relation which exists between faith and the imputation made of that faith. The subject of ἐλογίσθη, was counted, might be the πιστεῦσαι, believing, understood; but it is simpler to regard the verb as impersonal: “there was in relation to him an imputation of righteousness.” This saying is more expressly connected with the first of the three subjects treated in this chapter, Abraham's justification, Romans 4:1-12; but it sums up at the same time the two others, the inheritance of the world and the birth of Isaac, which are, so to speak, its complements. Thus is introduced the fourth part, which contains the application to existing believers, Romans 4:23-25.