Peter Forbes comments:
4:2 In questioning Abraham’s righteousness Paul develops the point that he made in Rom 2:13 showing that the law does not bring righteousness.
4:3 ‘Abraham believed God …‘ the quotation is from Gen. 15:6. Righteousness is imputed by God on the basis of faith, not works of the law. Gen. 15 predates the giving of the law. This is the thrust of the argument in verses 4:4,5 and circumcision – the implications of this are developed in Rom.4:9-13.
Man reading Psalms at the Western Wall. Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine, March 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
4:6-8 The appeal to Psalm 32:1-2 which is a Psalm that David wrote after Nathan had spoken of God’s forgiveness for David’s adultery [2 Sam.12:13] continues the theme of forgiveness from ch. 3:4 We should take great comfort from the fact that God was willing to forgive the repentant David.
4:7 Notice the subtle but important difference between the language of Psa 32:1 – and Paul’s words here. Whilst the Psalm has ‘he’ whereas Paul here says ‘they’. Paul generalises from the Psalm. The Psalm has specific relevance to David’s situation. Paul says that specific application of forgiveness actually extends to all who follow David’s example of repentance.
4:11 Whilst Israel seemed to see circumcision as the ultimate test of Jewishness Paul clearly says here that it is a sign of what has already been seen in Abraham – that is his faith in God which was counted for righteousness.
4:18 ‘against hope believed in hope‘ tells us that Abraham had to have faith in the promise of the seed as it was humanly speaking impossible.
4:23 The implication from ‘now it was not written for his sake alone …‘ is that Abraham had a written copy of the promise.
Cliff York comments
Romans 4 – To meet the views of the Jews, the apostle first refers to the example of Abraham, in whom the Jews gloried as their most renowned forefather. However exalted in various respects, he had nothing to boast in the presence of God, for he too was saved by grace, through faith, even as others. Without noticing the years which passed before his call, and the failures at times in his obedience, and even in his faith, it was expressly stated in the Scripture that “he believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness,” Genesis 15:6. From this example it is observed, that if any man could work the full measure required by the law, the reward must then be reckoned as a debt, which evidently was not the case even of Abraham, seeing faith was reckoned to him for righteousness.
It is clear from the Scripture, that Abraham was justified several years before his circumcision. This then is Paul’s point to those who prided themselves on their pedigree and/or on the very private mark they received in their flesh whilst they were too young to effectively protest otherwise. It is, therefore, plain that this circumcision was not necessary in order to that justification which is by faith.
+
It is truly fascinating to reflect on the great wisdom of the Father as one reads the 3 portions of Scripture each day, and often there runs a “Golden Thread” through them all. For example, one of the Golden Threads evident today, is the concept, that we can only be Justified by the Grace of God. Paul deals in great detail with the subject, of course, in Romans, Joseph in his life revealed how great a force faith in God is the life of each of His saints – Genesis 47:12, and the Psalmist captured the same beautifully in the closing verse of Psalm 50 – “Whoso offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God.”
John Wilson comments
Prayer of David, psalm 51 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Rom 4:7 As we read from Psa 32 the other day, and as we read from Psa 51 tomorrow, we can clearly see, and appreciate that the confession of sin is not seeking forgiveness, it acknowledges the righteousness of our Heavenly Father. We must also be aware of the fact, that our failings can not be forgiven unless we are prepared to acknowledge them.
Rom 4:17 “I have made thee a father of many nations.” Paul is quoting from Gen 17:5 Sarah was still barren at this time, but we see that this is written in the past tense. This was foreordained. There is a difference between pre-existence and being foreordained. The seed of Abraham, both Isaac and Christ were foreordained.
4:21 All promises that have been made by God, he is able to perform, certainly different from promises made by man. God never forgets a promise, while man frequently forgets, God’s promises are priceless, while promises of man are often times useless, God’s promises are always right, while mans are often wrong.
Michael Parry comments
Paul; the writer to the Hebrews; James; and Peter all talk about Abraham. He was the patriarch of the physical Jewish nation and also father of the faithful (4:16).
He was given the promises before the Law (Gen 17:5-8) – even before his circumcision (Gen 17:24). The particular seed of his promise was Christ who fulfilled the Law (Matt 5:17, Gal 3:16). However, God still has a covenant with the Jewish nation and the land of Israel even though they have not (yet) accepted Christ. It is a mistake to believe, as some groups do, that any prophetical reference or future application concerning the Land and people of Israel is purely spiritual and not physical.
Rob de Jongh comments
For many of us the intricate arguments of scripture are too much to grasp. That’s why we’re given Abraham as an example. All we need to do is read about his life, emulate what we see, and we will obtain the same promises as him. Rom 4:3, 11-12, 16, 20-25.
Preceding articles
January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
Letter to the Romans, chapter 3
Letter to the Romans, chapter 4
Additional comments to the 3rd Letter to the Romans
++
Additional reading
- Written down in God’s Name for righteousness
- Testimonies to observe, inspired by God
- Necessity of a revelation of creation 5 Getting understanding by Word of God 3
- A god who gave his people commandments and laws he knew they never could keep to it
- The Right One to follow and to worship
- God showing how far He is willing to go to save His children
- A secret to be reveiled
- Gone astray, away from God
- Back from gone #4 Your inner feelings and actions
- Looking for something or for the Truth and what it might be and self-awareness
- Two states of existence before God
- The God of hope filling us with all joy and peace
- God receives us on the basis of our faith
- That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us
- With child and righteousness greater than the law
- Nazarene Commentary Matthew 3:13-17 – Jesus Declared God’s Son at His Baptism
- Atonement and the race been bought
- A race not to swift, nor a battle to the strong
- Fixing our attentionSelf inflicted misery #8 Pruning to strengthen us
- Gaining Christ, trusting Jehovah
- Set free from any form of mental torment or self-condemnation
- Doctrine and Conduct Cause and Effect
- Hope by faith and free gift
- God’s love – Equal and unconditional for all believers
- True richesBeing Religious and Spiritual 7 Transcendence to become one
- If you have integrity
- Honor your own words as if they were an important contract
- All Positive Energy People Are Acceptable
- Our openness to being approachable
- Preaching to an unbelieving world
- Is your mind thirsty?
- The Dress Code for Women in the Quran
+++
Further readings
- Daily Devotional – Romans 4:1-12
- Daily Devotional – Romans 4:12-25
- Romans 4 and the Sacraments
- Faith-full Father Abraham
- Paul’s Scriptural Argument
- Paul’s Argument of Maturity
- What works was Paul talking about in Romans?
- Background to Romans 9-11: key teaching from Romans 1:16-4:25
- Structure of Romans 1:16-4:25
- May 23 2 Chronicles 6,7; Psalms 135; Romans 4
- Devotional # 90. Galatians 3:15-29
- A Promise
- God is righteous and just (God is good 4)
- “It’s something only God can do, and you trust him to do it.” ~Apostle Paul
- The relevance of God’s Word today
- Righteousness of Faith
- Could Abraham have remained childless?
- Would Your Faith Save You?
- It’s not about you
- The Best Way to “Stand Up” For Jesus: Revisiting Romans
- What works was Paul talking about in Romans?
- Nullify the Torah?
- Apart From The Law Of Righteousness
- Under The Law
- Scriptures on Righteousness- Joseph Prince
- Righteous and Right-ness
- Greater Love Hath No Man
- Jesus Christ has done enough
- Verse of the day – Righteousness of the Law
- Grace words for today Devotional
- It is in difficult times that we choose to continue to do what is right while everything else seems wrong that we grow
- Getting wisdom
- Moral Image
- Incredible Peace
- It Is God’s Presence in Us
- Strength In Your Hair Or Your Faith?
- Daily Inspiration, January 28th
- You Have on Different Clothing Now
- Christ: A Place In God
- The Privilege
- The Sermon on the Mount is not a Guide to Christian Salvation
- Experiencing Revival Part 3: Obedience
- Righteousness Pt 10
- Kingdom Come
- You Christian, shouldn’t carry guilt, or seek ongoing forgiveness to stay “right” with God.
- Exodus 4-6 Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son
- The Myths and Facts of Circumcision
- The Question of Circumcision II
- God confronted even Moses for not keeping the covenant
- What is so important about this Commandment?
- Experience the change in status from “Children of the flesh,” and of the world : to “Children by promise,” and in the World -Guy#2:03
- Surrender: Circumcision of the Heart
- Is your heart circumcised today?
- Only Jesus Christ – no if’s, no but’s (1)
- Yes’s and No’s
- entering in…as chosen ones
+++
Pingback: From house to house #2: Continuing to bring the good news right to the world – Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people