Romanos 4:12-17 NTV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:12

And the father of circumcision - He is also the head and representative of all the circumcision of all the Jews who walk in the steps of that faith; who seek for justification by faith only, and not by the works of the law; for this was the faith that Abraham had before he received circumcision. For, the covenant being made with Abraham while he was a Gentile, he became the representative of the Gentiles, and they primarily were included in that covenant, and the Jews were brought in only... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world - This promise intimated that he should be the medium through whom the mercy of God should be communicated to the world, to both Jews and Gentiles; and the manner in which he was justified, be the rule and manner according to which all men should expect this blessing. Abraham is here represented as having all the world given to him as his inheritance; because in him all nations of the earth are blessed: this must therefore relate to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:14

For, if they which are of the law be heirs - If the Jews only be heirs of the promise made to Abraham, and that on the ground of prior obedience to the law, then faith is made void - is entirely useless; and the promise, which was made to faith, is made of none effect. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:15

Because the law worketh wrath - For law νομος , any law, or rule of duty. No law makes provision for the exercise of mercy, for it worketh wrath, οργην , punishment, for the disobedient. Law necessarily subjects the transgressor to punishment; for where no law is - where no rule of duty is enacted and acknowledged, there is no transgression; and where there is no transgression there can be no punishment, for there is no law to enforce it. But the Jews have a law, which they have broken;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace - On this account the promise is mercifully grounded, not on obedience to a law, but on the infinite goodness of God: and thus the promise is sure to all the seed - to all, both Jews and Gentiles, who, believing in Christ Jesus, have a right to all the blessings contained in the Abrahamic covenant. All the seed necessarily comprehends all mankind. Of the Gentiles there can be no doubt, for the promise was given to Abraham while he was a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:17

As it is written, I have made thee a father - That Abraham's being a father of many nations has relation to the covenant of God made with him, may be seen, Genesis 17:4 , Genesis 17:5 ; : Behold my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations: neither shall thy name any more be called Abram; but thy name shall be Abraham, for a father of many nations have I made thee, i.e. he was constituted the head of many nations, the Gentile world, by virtue of the covenant,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:12

Verse 12 12.To them who are not, etc. The verb, are, is in this place to be taken for, “are deemed to be:” for he touches the carnal descendants of Abraham, who, having nothing but outward circumcision, confidently gloried in it. The other thing, which was the chief matter, they neglected; for the faith of Abraham, by which alone he obtained salvation, they did not imitate. It hence appears, how carefully he distinguished between faith and the sacrament; not only that no one might be satisfied... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13

Verse 13 13.For the promise, etc. He now more clearly sets the law and faith in opposition, the one to the other, which he had before in some measure done; and this ought to be carefully observed: for if faith borrows nothing from the law in order to justify, we hence understand, that it has respect to nothing else but to the mercy of God. And further, the romance of those who would have this to have been said of ceremonies, may be easily disproved; for if works contributed anything towards... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:14

Verse 14 14.For if they who are of the law, etc. He takes his argument from what is impossible or absurd, that the favor which Abraham obtained from God, was not promised to him through any legal agreement, or through any regard to works; for if this condition had been interposed — that God would favor those only with adoption who deserved, or who performed the law, no one could have dared to feel confident that it belonged to him: for who is there so conscious of so much perfection that he can... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:15

Verse 15 15.For the law causeth wrath, etc. This is a confirmation of the last verse, derived from the contrary effect of the law; for as the law generates nothing but vengeance, it cannot bring grace. It can indeed show to the good and the perfect the way of life: but as it prescribes to the sinful and corrupt what they ought to do, and supplies them with no power for doing, it exhibits them as guilty before the tribunal of God. For such is the viciousness of our nature, that the more we are... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:15

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