Romans 4:1-22 ESV

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:11

‘And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned to them,’ What then was the purpose of circumcision? It was a ‘sign’ of the covenant between God and Abraham (Genesis 17:11). It was thus a sign that he was already reckoned as in the right, and it was a seal of the righteousness which had been... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:12

‘And the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.’ Nor is Abraham to be seen as the father of all who are circumcised. (As Jesus would point out to the Pharisees who claimed to be sons of Abraham, ‘you are of your father the Devil’ - John 8:39-44). He is rather to be seen as the father of those of the circumcised who walk in the same steps of faith as did Abraham, and... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13

‘For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.’ The ‘for’ may refer back to walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham while he was uncircumcised (Romans 4:12), or to the whole previous narrative. Or it may simply be introductory. But the gist of the verse is clear, and that is that the promise given to Abraham that he would be heir of the world was not connected with obedience to the Law but was... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13-25

3). Abraham Illustrates The Fact That God’s Greatest Gifts Do Not Come To Us Because We ‘Obey The Law’, But Because We ‘Believe In The Lord’ (4:13-25). The importance of faith in the life of Abraham is now brought out. For Paul here stresses that he lived a life of faith from the moment he began to believe, and continued to do so throughout his life, and he stresses that the promise to Abraham that he would be the heir of the world was made on that basis. Note that God’s promises are mentioned... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:14-15

‘For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect. For the law works wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.’ The promises were offered to Abraham for his ready acceptance through faith. Thus faith was the basis of his heirdom. That being so, if that heirdom goes to those who rely on observing the Law for salvation, faith is basically cancelled out. It is no longer required. It is rendered ineffectual, being replaced... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:16

‘For this reason it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.’ It is because the Law can only bring down on men the wrath of God that God’s promise had to be based on faith, so that the promise could depend on the unfailing grace of God. This alone made the promise sure of fulfilment. And it was a fulfilment that... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:17

‘(As it is written, ‘A father of many nations have I made you’) before him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.’ The Scriptural evidence is now given. ‘A father of many nations have I made you’. These words are found in Genesis 17:5. They would be literally true of the descendants of his many sons as they mingled with other peoples to form tribes, and they would be spiritually true of all who experienced the worldwide... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:18

‘Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to what had been spoken, “So shall your seed be.” ’ Paul now makes the application to what followed in the life of Abraham, something which also resulted from his faith. For as a consequence of God’s promise he believed that he would be the father of many nations, even though it was ‘a hope believed against hope’, that is, a hope in what appeared to be impossible. He believed God’s promise... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:19

‘And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb,’ For even though he had to recognise that he was a hundred years old, and that Sarah’s womb was dead (incapable of giving birth), he still resolutely believed what God promised him. His faith did not weaken. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:20-21

‘Yet, looking to the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.’ He looked to God’s promise, not wavering through unbelief, and grew strong in faith, giving glory to God and confident that what He had promised He was able to perform. And all this because of his personal faith and trust in God. Thus all the way through his life faith is what is seen to be the... read more

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:11

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:12

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:13-25

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:14-15

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:16

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:17

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:18

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:19

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:20-21

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