WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY? (τ ουν ερουμεν?). Paul is fond of this rhetorical question (Romans 4:1; Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14; Romans 9:30).FOREFATHER (προπατορα). Old word, only here in N.T. Accusative case in apposition with Αβρααμ (accusative of general reference with the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SCRIPTURE (η γραφη). Genesis 15:6.WAS JUSTIFIED BY WORKS (εξ εργων εδικαιωθη). Condition of first class, assumed as true for the sake of argument, though untrue in fact. The rabbis had a doctrine of the merits of Abraham who had a superfluity of credits to pass on to the Jews (Luke 3:8).BUT... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS RECKONED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS (ελογισθη εις δικαιοσυνην). First aorist passive indicative of λογιζομα, old and common verb to set down accounts (literally or metaphorically). It was set down on the credit side of the ledger "for" (εις as often) righteousness. What was set down? His b... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS OF DEBT (αλλα κατα οφειλημα). An illustration of the workman (εργαζομενω) who gets his wages due him, "not as of grace" (ου κατα χαριν).... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY (τον δικαιουντα τον ασεβη). The impious, irreverent man. See Romans 1:25. A forensic figure (Shedd). The man is taken as he is and pardoned. "The whole Pauline gospel could be summed up in this one word-- God who justifies the ungodly" (Denney).... [ Continue Reading ]
PRONOUNCETH BLESSING (λεγε τον μακαρισμον). old word from μακαριζω, to pronounce blessed (Luke 1:48), felicitation, congratulation, in N.T. only here, verse Romans 4:9; Acts 4:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED (μακαριο). See on Matthew 5:3.ARE FORGIVEN (αφεθησαν). First aorist passive indicative of αφιημ, without augment (αφειθησαν, regular form). Paul quotes Psalms 32:1 and as from David. Paul thus confirms his interpretation of Genesis 15:6.INIQUITIES (ανομια). Violations of law whereas α... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM (ω). But the best MSS. read ου like the LXX and so Westcott and Hort, "whose sin."WILL NOT RECKON (ου μη λογισητα). Strong negation by double negative and aorist middle subjunctive.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THIS BLESSING THEN PRONOUNCED? (ο μακαρισμος ουν ουτοσ?). "Is this felicitation then?" There is no verb in the Greek. Paul now proceeds to show that Abraham was said in Genesis 15:6 to be set right with God by faith _before_ he was circumcised.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WAS IN CIRCUMCISION (εν περιτομη οντ). Dative masculine singular of the present active participle of ειμ; "to him being in a state of circumcision or in a state of uncircumcision?" A pertinent point that the average Jew had not noticed.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION (σημειον περιτομης). It is the genitive of apposition, circumcision being the sign.A SEAL OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE FAITH (σφραγιδα της δικαιοσυνης της πιστεως). Σφραγις is old word for the seal placed on books (Revelation 5:1), for a signet-ring (Revelation 7:2), the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FATHER OF CIRCUMCISION (πατερα περιτομης). The accusative with εις το εινα to be repeated from verse Romans 4:11. Lightfoot takes it to mean, not "a father of a circumcised progeny," but "a father belonging to circumcision," a less natural interpretation.BUT WHO ALSO WALK (αλλα κα τοις στοι... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE SHOULD BE THE HEIR OF THE WORLD (το κληρονομον αυτον εινα κοσμου). The articular infinitive (το εινα) with the accusative of general reference in loose apposition with η επαγγελια (the promise). But where is that promise? Not just Genesis 12:7, but the whole chain of promises about his so... [ Continue Reading ]
BE HEIRS (κληρονομο). No predicate in the Greek (εισιν). See on Galatians 4:1. If legalists are heirs of the Messianic promise to Abraham (condition of first class, assumed as true for argument's sake), the faith is emptied of all meaning (κεκενωτα, perfect passive indicative of κενοω) and the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
WORKETH WRATH (οργην κατεργαζετα). Because of disobedience to it.NEITHER IS THERE TRANSGRESSION (ουδε παραβασις). There is no responsibility for the violation of a non-existent law.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF FAITH (εκ πιστεως). As the source.ACCORDING TO GRACE (κατα χαριν). As the pattern.TO THE END THAT (εις το εινα). Purpose again as in Romans 4:11.SURE (βεβαιαν). Stable, fast, firm. Old adjective from βαινω, to walk.NOT TO THAT ONLY WHICH IS OF THE LAW (ου τω εκ του νομου μονον). Anothe... [ Continue Reading ]
A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS (πατερα πολλων εθνων). Quotation from Genesis 17:5. Only true in the sense of spiritual children as already explained, father of believers in God.BEFORE HIM WHOM HE BELIEVED EVEN GOD (κατεναντ ου επιστευσεν θεου). Incorporation of antecedent into the relative clause and... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HOPE BELIEVED AGAINST HOPE (παρ' ελπιδα επ' ελπιδ επιστευσεν). "Past hope in (upon) hope he trusted." Graphic picture.TO THE END THAT HE MIGHT BECOME (εις το γενεσθα αυτον). Purpose clause again with εις to and the infinitive as in verses Romans 4:11-16.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT BEING WEAKENED IN FAITH (μη ασθενησας τη πιστε). "Not becoming weak in faith." Ingressive first aorist active participle with negative μη.NOW AS GOOD AS DEAD (ηδη νενεκρωμενον). Perfect passive participle of νεκροω, "now already dead." B omits ηδη. He was, he knew, too old to become fat... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAVERED NOT THROUGH UNBELIEF (ου διεκριθη τη απιστια). First aorist passive indicative of old and common verb διακρινω, to separate, to distinguish between, to decide between, to desert, to dispute, to be divided in one's own mind. This last sense occurs here as in Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:23; R... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING FULLY ASSURED (πληροφορηθεις). First aorist passive participle of πληροφορεω, from πληροφορος and this from πληρης and φερω, to bear or bring full (full measure), to settle fully. Late word, first in LXX but frequent in papyri in sense of finishing off or paying off. See on Luke 1:1; Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT (οτ). Either recitative or declarative οτ. It makes sense either way.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS (τον εγειραντα Ιησουν). First aorist active articular participle of εγειρω, to raise up. The fact of the Resurrection of Jesus is central in Paul's gospel (1 Corinthians 15:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION (δια την δικαιωσιν ημων). The first clause (παρεδοθη δια τα παραπτωματα) is from Isaiah 53:12. The first δια with παραπτωματα is probably retrospective, though it will make sense as prospective (to make atonement for our transgressions). The second δια is quite clearly prosp... [ Continue Reading ]