ローマ人への手紙 4:1 JCB

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Romans 4:1

What shall we say then? - See Romans 3:1. This is rather the objection of a Jew. “How does your doctrine of justification by faith agree with what the Scriptures say of Abraham? Was the Law set aside in his case? Did he derive no advantage in justification from the rite of circumcision, and from the covenant which God made with him?” The object of the apostle now is to answer this inquiry.That Abraham our father - Our ancestor; the father and founder of the nation; see the note at Matthew 3:9... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Romans 4:1

Romans 4:1-2. What shall we say then The apostle, in the preceding chapter, having shown the impossibility of man’s being justified by the merit of his obedience to any law, moral or ceremonial, or any otherwise than by grace through faith, judged it necessary, for the sake of the Jews, to consider the case of Abraham, on being whose progeny, and on whose merits, the Jews placed great dependance; as they did also on the ceremony of circumcision, received from him. It was therefore of... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

Some examples (4:1-25)To illustrate what he has just been teaching, Paul refers to the example of Abraham. Abraham was justified because of his faith, not because of any good deeds that he did (4:1-3). (To understand the illustrations concerning Abraham that follow, read Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:1-6; Genesis 16:1-16; Genesis 17:15-22; Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 21:1-21.)Righteousness is a gift received by faith, not payment for work that a person does (4-5). David, as well as Abraham, knew that... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Romans 4:1

What, &c. See Romans 3:5 . Forcible form of Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ). Resuming from Romans 3:21 . father = forefather, as the texts read. Figure of speech Synecdoche of Species, App-6 . as pertaining to . Greek. kata . App-104 . the flesh . All the Jews claimed Abraham as their father, See Romans 9:5 .Luke 1:73; 3 John 1:83 John 1:8 :39 (Compare Rom 4:56 ). Acts 7:2 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Romans 4:1

This chapter is a development of the thought expressed in Romans 4:28-29 near the close of Romans 3, that is, the vindication of God's righteousness in calling Jews and Gentiles in one body, that of Christ, with no distinctions between them. Paul followed throughout this chapter the terminology introduced in those verses, calling the Jews "the circumcision" and the Gentiles "the uncircumcision." That such is indeed the subject of this chapter appears in the use of those two words a dozen times... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Romans 4:1

Romans 4:1. What shall we then say— In the foregoing chapter the Apostle has proved, that neitherJews nor Gentiles have a right to the blessings of God's peculiar kingdom, otherwise than by grace, which is free to the one, as well as the other. In this chapter he advances to a new argument, admirably adapted to convince the Jew; to shew the believingGentile in a clear light the high value of the mercies freelybestowed upon him in the Gospel, and at the same time to display the wondrous plans of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Romans 4:1

1-3. What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?—that is, (as the order in the original shows), "hath found, as pertaining to ('according to,' or 'through') the flesh"; meaning, "by all his natural efforts or legal obedience." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 4:1

He started with a rhetorical question that he used often in Romans (cf. Romans 6:1; Romans 7:7; Romans 8:31; Romans 9:14; Romans 9:30): "What then shall we say?" By referring to Abraham as "our forefather after the flesh" (Romans 4:1) Paul revealed that he was aiming these comments at his Jewish readers primarily. Abraham’s case is significant for Gentiles as well, however, because in another sense, as the father of the faithful, he is the father of "us all" (Romans 4:16). "All" refers to all... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Romans 4:1-5

1. Abraham’s justification by faith 4:1-5Paul began this chapter by showing that God declared Abraham righteous because of the patriarch’s faith. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:1-25

Acceptance by Faith foreshadowed in the old DispensationIn Romans 3:21.; St. Paul set forth the great truth of acceptance by faith. A Jew might object that it was new, and therefore not true. In Romans 3:31; St. Paul answered that in the Law and in faith there is the same moral and religious ideal, which is more completely developed and more perfectly fulfilled by faith. Now he turns to the past, to show that acceptance by faith is not a new idea. It was faith for which Abraham was accepted,... read more