Romans 4:1-12
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (v.3) Paul makes a strong case that Abraham was found righteous by faith (Genesis 15:6, quoted above) while he was still uncircumcised. In the next chapter, Genesis 16:16 puts Abraham at age 86 when Ishmael was born; he was 99 years old when he was circumcised (Genesis 17:10-11). Paul is arguing that Abraham did nothing (works) to earn God’s granting righteousness to him, only that he believed.
It is worth repeating the last two verses in today’s reading: He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised … who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (vv. 11-12, only slightly edited) Circumcision (at age 99) was a sign of the faith (and righteousness) that Abraham already had in his 80s. So Paul is making the case for Abraham’s being the father of both the Jews (the circumcised) and the Gentiles (the uncircumcised).
Yes, this gets confusing. It is so helpful to read these epistles in short spurts and to tie Paul’s words in today’s reading back to Genesis.
Slava Bohu!