Romans 4:12

Romans 4:12

10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.

11 And ^ahe received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that ^bhe might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also,

12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father ^aAbraham had while still uncircumcised.

The Promise Granted Through Faith

13 For the promise that he would be the ^aheir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For ^aif those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

15 because ^athe law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be ^aaccording to grace, ^bso that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, ^cwho is the father of us all

17 (as it is written, ^a“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, ^bwho gives life to the dead and calls those ^cthings which do not exist as though they did;

18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ^a“So shall your descendants be.”

Commentaries:

Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

<< Romans 4:11

Romans 4:13 >>

The father of circumcision (patera peritomhv). The accusative with eiv to einai to be repeated from verse Romans 4:11. Lightfoot takes it to mean, not "a father of a circumcised progeny," but "a father belonging to circumcision," a less natural interpretation.

But who also walk (alla kai toiv stoixousin). The use of toiv here is hard to explain, for ou monon and alla kai both come after the preceding toiv. All the MSS. have it thus. A primitive error in a copyist is suggested by Hort who would omit the second toiv. Lightfoot regards it less seriously and would repeat the second toiv in the English: "To those who are, I do not say of circumcision only, but also to those who walk."

In the steps (toiv ixnesin). Locative case. See on II Corinthians 12:18. Stoixew is military term, to walk in file as in Galatians 5:25; Philippians 3:16.

**Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Romans 4:12:**

Acts 21:24
Romans 4:16
Romans 4:18
Romans 11:33
Colossians 2:12
1 Peter 2:21

<< Romans 4:11

Romans 4:13 >>

DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.