Romans 4:11-17

Romans 4:11 b – Romans 4:17 a. Abraham’ s Relation to Mankind.— With Abraham’ s faith a great prospect opened for humanity.

Romans 4:11 b , Romans 4:12 . According to Genesis 17 the patriarch “ received” the Covenant-sign “ to the end he might be father of all that believe while in uncircumcision” like himself, . . . “ and father,” to be sure, “ of circumcision— in the case of those who do not rely upon the fleshly token ( cf. Romans 2:26-Joel :), but who keep in the track of our father Abraham’ s pre-circumcision faith.”

Romans 4:13. The antithesis of Law and Grace becomes that of Law and Promise; God’ s grace toward Abraham was charged with blessing for future ages. “ The men of faith,” circumcised or not, “ are Abraham’ s sons” ( Romans 4:11 f.; cf. Galatians 3:7). Such filiation implies that “ the world-embracing promise,” whether considered as made “ to Abraham or to his seed,” was given simply on terms of the “ faith-righteousness” common to Abraham with believing Gentiles.

Romans 4:14 f. Had “ law” conditioned the inheritance, it must have lapsed for want of qualified heirs, “ faith being thus reduced to an empty word and the promise being nullified; for the law breeds transgression (see Romans 5:20, Romans 7:7-Isaiah :), which entails God’ s anger” ( Romans 1:18 ff., Romans 2:8 f.). The negative form of Romans 4:15 b suits Abraham’ s case, in which the fatal sequence of commandment, transgression, wrath, was obviated.

Romans 4:16 . Two purposes are answered by conditioning the promise upon faith: it devolves “ by way of grace,” which is God’ s delight ( cf. Romans 5:20, Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 2:7, etc.); and the fulfilment “ is secured to all the seed”— to Gentiles along with Jews.

Romans 4:17 a supports Abraham’ s title to ecumenical fatherhood, by quoting the oracle attached to the Covenant of Circumcision (p. 151 ).