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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 4:9-17

St. Paul observes in this paragraph when and why Abraham was thus justified; for he has several things to remark upon that. It was before he was circumcised, and before the giving of the law; and there was a reason for both. I. It was before he was circumcised, Rom. 4:10. His faith was counted to him for righteousness while he was in uncircumcision. It was imputed, Gen. 15:6; and he was not circumcised till Gen. 17:1-27. Abraham is expressly said to be justified by faith fourteen years, some... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 4:9-12

4:9-12 Did, then, this pronouncing of blessedness come to Abraham when he was circumcised? Or when he was uncircumcised? We are just saying, "His faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness." Under what circumstances was it then accounted? Was it while he was circumcised? Or was it while he was uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of that relationship to God whose source was faith while he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 4:13-17

4:13-17 It was not through law that there came to Abraham or to his seed the promise that he would inherit the earth, but it came through that right relationship with God which has its origin in faith. If they who are vassals of the law are heirs, then faith is drained of its meaning, and the promise is rendered inoperative; for the law produces wrath, but where law does not exist, neither can transgression exist. So, then, the whole process depends on faith, in order that it may be a matter... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 4:10

How was it then reckoned ?.... The Arabic version adds, "and when"; and the Ethiopic version reads it, "when was Abraham justified?" expressing the sense, not the words of the original text, with which agree the following questions: when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision ? that is, was he justified, or his faith reckoned to him for righteousness, when he was a circumcised, or an uncircumcised person? not in circumcision ; or when he was circumcised; for when it was said of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision ,.... Or "the sign circumcision", as the Syriac version reads it, and so the Alexandrian copy, and two of Stephens's; that is, Abraham received at the hands of God, the commandment of circumcision, which was a "sign" or token of the covenant; not of grace, but of that peculiar covenant God made with Abraham and his natural seed, concerning their enjoyment of the land of Canaan; and which was a distinctive sign or badge, which distinguished the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 4:12

And the father of circumcision ,.... So the Jews call Abraham ראש הנימולים F12 Tzeror Hammor, fol. 18. 3. , "the head of those that are circumcised"; and ראש למולים F13 Juchasin, fol. 5. 2. Midrash Esther, fol. 85. 3. , "the head to them that are circumcised"; but the apostle here says, he is a father to them who are not of the circumcision only ; not to the Jews only, in a spiritual sense, and not to all of them, since some were "of Israel", who were not Israel, not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 4:13

For the promise that he should be heir of the world ,.... This promise is thought by some to refer to that of his being "the father of many nations", Genesis 17:4 ; by whom the Gentiles are particularly meant, who are sometimes called "the world", and "the whole world", or the elect of God, the believing part of the world; whether among Jews or Gentiles, who sometimes go by the name of "the world" in Scripture: but to this it may be objected, that the promise here spoken of is made to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:10

How was it then reckoned? - In what circumstances was Abraham when this blessing was bestowed upon him? When he was circumcised, or before? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision - Faith was reckoned to Abraham for justification, as we read Genesis 15:6 , (see the note on Genesis 15:6 ;); but circumcision was not instituted till about fourteen or fifteen years after, Genesis 17:1 , etc.; for faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness or justification at least one year... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal, etc. - So far was obedience to the law of circumcision from being the reason of his justification, that he not only received this justification before he was circumcised, but he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the pardon which he had before actually received. And thus he became the father, the great head and representative, of all them that believe; particularly the Gentiles, who are now in precisely the same state in which... read more

Adam Clarke

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

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