Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
The sign of circumcision (shmeion peritomhv). It is the genitive of apposition, circumcision being the sign.
A seal of the righteousness of the faith (sfragida thv dikaiosunhv thv pistewv). Sfragiv is old word for the seal placed on books (Revelation 5:1), for a signet-ring (Revelation 7:2), the stamp made by the seal (II Timothy 2:19), that by which anything is confirmed (I Corinthians 9:2) as here. The circumcision did not convey the righteousness, but only gave outward confirmation. It came by faith and "the faith which he had while in uncircumcision" (thv en th akrobustiai), "the in the state of uncircumcision faith." Whatever parallel exists between baptism and circumcision as here stated by Paul argues for faith before baptism and for baptism as the sign and seal of the faith already had before baptism.
That he might be (eiv to einai auton). This idiom may be God's purpose (contemplated result) as in eiv to logisqhnai below, or even actual result (so that he was) as in Romans 1:20.
Though they be in uncircumcision (di akrobustiav). Simply, "of those who believe while in the condition of uncircumcision."
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Romans 4:11:
Acts 7:8
Romans 4:12
Romans 4:16
Romans 4:18
Romans 15:9
Romans 15:28
Colossians 2:12
2 Timothy 2:19
James 2:12
Revelation 5:1
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