Romans 4:12

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

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

(5) Abraham himself shown to have been justified by faith, and not by works, believers being his true heirs. The main points of the argument may be summarized thus: When Abraham obtained a blessing to himself and to his seed for ever, it was by faith, and not by works, that he is declared to have been justified so as to obtain it. Thus the promise to his seed, as well as to himself, rested on the principle of justification by faith only. The Law, of which the principle was essentially... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

Abraham's faith. We have already seen how the apostle has prepared the way for the great doctrine of justification by faith. He showed in the first two chapters that man has no righteousness of his own, that he could not justify himself, but, on the contrary, that both Jew and Gentile are all under sin. "There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Now, in this fourth chapter, he shows that this great fact—the necessity for justification by faith—has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

Abraham justified by faith alone. We have just seen in last chapter the utility of Judaism, the universal depravity of the race, the new channel for Divine righteousness which had consequently to be found, and the confirmation of law which is secured by faith. The apostle in the present chapter illustrates his argument from the history of Abraham. He was reckoned by the Jews as "father of the faithful;" his case is, therefore, a crucial one. Accordingly, Paul begins by asking, "What shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:9-22

All things are of faith. The position is now established that righteousness is through faith. But, they might say, through the faith of a circumcised man; and the promise of the inheritance was through the Law; and surely the posterity of Abraham came according to the flesh. He answers—Righteousness, heritage, posterity, by faith alone. I. RIGHTEOUSNESS . 1. The righteousness of faith without circumcision. In Gem 15. we have the record of Abraham's justification; the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:11-12

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision (this was all that circumcision was—a visible sign and seal to his own descendants of the righteousness that is of faith; but not confining it to them, or in itself conferring it) that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them also. And the father of circumcision to them who are not of... read more

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