CHAPTER IV

1. What shall we say? (ti eroumen). See ch. iv. 1; vi. 1; vii. 7; viii. 31; ix. 14, 30. The phrase anticipates an objection or proposes an inference. It is used by Paul only, and by him only in this Epistle and in its argumentative portions. It is not found in the last five chapters, which are hortatory. Our Father. The best texts read propatora forefather.

Hath found. Westcott and Hort omit. Then the reading would be "what shall we say of Abraham," etc. Found signifies, attained by his own efforts apart from grace.

As pertaining to the flesh (kata sarka). Construe with found. The question is, Was Abraham justified by anything which pertained to the flesh? Some construe with Abraham: our father humanly speaking.

2. For. Supply, Abraham found nothing according to the flesh; for, if he did. he has something to boast of.

By works (ex ergwn). Lit., out of works. In speaking of the relation of works to justification, Paul never uses dia by or through, but ejk out of; works being regarded by the Jew as the meritorious source of salvation.

3. The Scripture (h grafh). The scripture passage. See on John ii. 22; and foot-note on John v. 47.

It was counted for righteousness (elogisqh eiv dikaiosunhn). For the phrase logizesqai eijv to reckon unto, compare ch. ii. 26; ix. 8, where eijv is rendered for. The verb is also used with wJv as. So ch. viii. 36; 1 Corinthians iv. 1. So in Sept., eijv, Psalm lvi. 31; Isa. xxix. 17; xxxii. 15; xl. 17; wJv. Gen. xxxi. 15; Job xli. 20; Psalm xliii. 22; Isa. v. 28; xxix. 16. The phrases ejlogisqh eijv and ejl. wJv are thus shown to be substantially equivalent. See further on ver. 5.

4. The reward (o misqov). See on 2 Pet. ii. 13.

Not of grace but of debt (ou kata carin alla kata ofeilhma). Lit., according to grace, etc. Not grace but debt is the regulative standard according to which his compensation is awarded. The workman for hire represents the legal method of salvation; he who does not work for hire, the gospel method; wages cannot be tendered as a gift. Grace is out of the question when wages is in question.

5. Believeth on Him (pisteuonti epi ton). The verb pisteuw to believe is used in the New Testament as follows:

1. Transitively, with the accusative and dative: to entrust something to one, Luke xvi. 11; John ii. 24. In the passive, to be entrusted with something, Rom. iii. 2; 1 Cor. ix. 17; Gal. ii. 7. With the simple accusative, to believe a thing, John xi. 26; 1 John iv. 16.

2. With the infinitive, Acts xv. 11.

3. With oti that, Matt. ix. 28; Mark xi. 24; Jas. ii. 19. Especially frequent in John: iv. 21; xi. 27, 42; xiii. 19; xiv. 10, 11; xvi. 27, 30, etc.

4. With the simple dative, meaning to believe a person or thing, that they are true or speak the truth, John ii. 22; iv. 21; v. 46. See on John i. 12; ii. 22, 23; viii. 31; x. 37.

5. With the preposition ejn in. Not frequent, and questioned in some of the passages cited for illustration. In John iii. 15, ejn aujtw in Him, is probably to be construed with have eternal life. The formula occurs nowhere else in John. In Mark i. 15 we find pisteuete ejn tw eujaggeliw believe in the gospel. The kindred noun pistiv faith, occurs in this combination. Thus Gal. iii. 26, though some join in Christ Jesus with sons. See also Eph. i. 15; Col. i. 4; 1 Tim. iii. 13; 2 Tim. iii. 15; Romans iii. 25. This preposition indicates the sphere in which faith moves, rather than the object to which it is directed, though instances occur in the Septuagint where it plainly indicates the direction of faith, Psalm lxxvii. 22; Jer. xii. 6.

6. With the preposition ejpi upon, on to, unto.

a. With the accusative, Rom. iv. 5; Acts ix. 42; xi. 17; xvi. 31; xxii. 19. The preposition carries the idea of mental direction with a view to resting upon, which latter idea is conveyed by the same preposition.

b. With the dative, 1 Tim. i. 16; Luke xxiv. 25; compare Romans ix. 33; x. 11; 1 Pet. ii. 6. The dative expresses absolute superposition. Christ as the object of faith, is the basis on which faith rests.

7. With the preposition eijv into, Matt. xviii. 6; John ii. 11; Acts xix. 4; Rom. x. 14; Gal. ii. 16; Philip. i. 29, etc. The preposition conveys the idea of the absolute transference of trust from one's self to another. Literally the phrase means to believe into. See on John i. 12; ii. 23; ix. 35; xii. 44.

Is counted for righteousness (logizetai eiv dikaiosunhn). Rev., is reckoned. See on ver. 3. The preposition eijv has the force of as, not the telic meaning with a view to, or in order that he may be (righteous); nor strictly, in the place of righteousness. Faith is not a substitute for righteousness, since righteousness is involved in faith. When a man is reckoned righteous through faith, it is not a legal fiction. He is not indeed a perfect man, but God does not reckon something which has no real existence. Faith is the germ of righteousness, of life in God. God recognizes no true life apart from holiness, and "he that believeth on the Son hath life." He is not merely regarded in the law's eye as living. God accepts the germ, not in place of the fruit, but as containing the fruit. "Abraham believed God.... No soul comes into such a relation of trust without having God's investment upon it; and whatever there may be in God's righteousness - love, truth, sacrifice - will be rightfully imputed or counted to be in it, because, being united to Him, it will have them coming over derivatively from Him" (Bushnell). The idea of logical sequence is inherent in logizetai is reckoned - the sequence of character upon faith. Where there is faith there is, logically, righteousness, and the righteousness is from faith unto faith (ch. i. 17). Nevertheless, in the highest development of the righteousness of faith, it will remain true that the man is justified, not by the works of righteousness, which are the fruit of faith, but by the faith which, in making him a partaker of the life and righteousness of God, generates and inspires the works.

Observe that the believer's own faith is reckoned as righteousness. "In no passage in Paul's writings or in other parts of the New Testament, where the phrase to reckon for or the verb to reckon alone is used, is there a declaration that anything belonging to one person is imputed, accounted, or reckoned to another, or a formal statement that Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers" (President Dwight, "Notes on Meyer").

6. Describeth the blessedness (legei ton makarismon). Makarismov does not mean blessedness, but the declaration of blessedness, the congratulation. So Plato: "The man of understanding will not suffer himself to be dazzled by the congratulation (makarismou) of the multitude ("Republic," ix., 591). Compare Gal. iv. 15 (Rev.), and see note there. Rev., correctly, pronounceth blessing.

7. Iniquities (anomiai). Lit., lawlessnesses.

Are forgiven (afeqhsan). Lit., were forgiven. See on Matt. vi. 12; Jas. v. 15; 1 John i. 9. Also on remission, Luke iii. 3.

11. The sign - a seal (shmeion - sfragida). Sign refers to the material token; seal to its religious import. Compare 1 Cor. ix. 2; Gen. xvii. 11. See on to seal, Apoc. xxii. 10.

That he might be (eiv to einai auton). Not so that he became, but expressing the divinely appointed aim of his receiving the sign.

12. Father of circumcision. Of circumcised persons. The abstract term is used for the concrete. See on xi. 7.

Who not only are - but who also walk. Apparently Paul speaks of two classes, but really of but one, designated by two different attributes. The awkwardness arises from the article toiv, erroneously repeated with stoicousin walk, which latter word expresses an added characteristic, not another class. Paul means that Abraham received a seal, etc., that he might be the father of circumcision to those who not only are circumcised, but who add to this outward sign the faith which Abraham exhibited.

Walk (stoicousin). See on elements, 2 Pet. iii. 10.

13. Heir of the world (klhronomon kosmou). See on divided by lot, Acts xiii. 19; and inheritance, 1 Pet. i. 4. "Paul here takes the Jewish conception of the universal dominion of the Messianic theocracy prefigured by the inheritance of Canaan, divests it of its Judaistic element, and raises it to a christological truth." Compare Matt. xix. 28, 29; Luke xxii. 30. The idea underlies the phrases kingdom of God, kingdom of Heaven.

16. Sure (bebaian). Stable, valid, something realized, the opposite of made of none effect, ver. 14.

17. A father of many nations. See Gen. xvii. 5. Originally his name was Abram, exalted father; afterward Abraham, father of a multitude.

Have I made (teqeika). Appointed or constituted. For a similar sense see Matt. xxiv. 51; John xv. 16, and note; Acts xiii. 47; 1 Tim. ii. 7. The verb shows that the paternity was the result of a special arrangement. It would not be used to denote the mere physical connection between father and son.

Who quickeneth the dead. This attribute of God is selected with special reference to the circumstances of Abraham as described in vers. 18, 21. As a formal attribute of God it occurs 1 Sam. ii. 6; John v. 21; 2 Corinthians i. 9; 1 Tim. vi. 13.

Calleth (kalountov). The verb is used in the following senses:

1 To give a name, with onoma name, Matt. i. 21, 22, 25; Luke i. 13, 31; without onoma Luke i. 59, 60. To salute by a name, Matt. xxiii. 9; xxii. 43, 45.

2. Passive. To bear a name or title among men, Luke i. 35; xxii. 25; 1 Corinthians xv. 9. To be acknowledged or to pass as, Matt. v. 9, 19; Jas. ii. 23.

3. To invite, Matt. xxii. 3, 9; John ii. 2; 1 Cor. x. 27. To summon, Matt. iv. 21; Acts iv. 18; xxiv. 2. To call out from, Matt. ii. 15; Heb. xi. 8; 1 Pet. ii. 9.

4. To appoint. Select for an office, Gal. i. 15; Heb. v. 4; to salvation, Rom. ix. 11; viii. 30.

5. Of God's creative decree. To call forth from nothing, Isa. xli. 4; 2 Kings viii. 1.

In this last sense some explain the word here; but it can scarcely be said that God creates things that are not as actually existing. Others explain, God's disposing decree. He disposes of things that are not as though existing. 31 The simplest explanation appears to be to give kalein the sense of nameth, speaketh of. Compare ch. ix. 7; Acts vii. 5. The seed of Abraham "which were at present in the category of things which were not, and the nations which should spring physically or spiritually from him, God spoke of as having an existence, which word Abraham believed" (Alford). In this case there may properly be added the idea of the summons to the high destiny ordained for Abraham's seed.

19. Being not weak in faith he considered not (mh asqenhsav th pistei ou katenohsen). The best texts omit ouj not before considered. According to this the rendering is as Rev., he considered, etc. Being not weak or weakened: (Rev.) is an accompanying circumstance to he considered. He considered all these unfavorable circumstances without a weakening of faith. The preposition kata in katenohsen considered, is intensive - attentively. He fixed his eye upon the obstacles.

Dead (nenekrwmenon). The participle is passive, slain. Used here hyperbolically. Hence, Rev., as good as dead.

20. Staggered (diekriqh). Rev., better, wavered. See on Acts xi. 12; Jas. i. 6; ii. 4. The word implies a mental struggle.

Promise (epaggelian). See on Acts i. 4.

Was strong (enedunamwqh). Passive voice. Lit., was strengthened, or endued with strength. Rev., waxed strong.

21. Being fully persuaded (plhroforhqeiv). Rev., more accurately, fully assured. See on most surely believed, Luke i. 1. The primary idea is, being filled with a thought or conviction.

Able (dunatov). The sense is stronger: mighty; compare Luke i. 49; xxiv. 19; Acts xviii. 24; 2 Cor. x. 4; Apoc. vi. 15.

24. It shall be reckoned (mellei logizesqai).. Not the future of the verb to reckon, but mellw to intend points to God's definite purpose. See on Acts xxvii. 2; 2 Pet. i. 12.

Who believe. Since we are those who believe.

25. Was delivered (paredoqh). See on Matt. iv. 12; 1 Pet. ii. 23. Used of casting into prison or delivering to justice, Matt. iv. 12; x. 17, xix. 21. Frequently of the betrayal of Christ, Matt. x. 4; xvii. 22; John vi. 64, 71. Of committing a trust, Matt. xxv. 14, 20, 22. Of committing tradition, doctrine, or precept, Mark vii. 13; 1 Cor. xi. 2; xv. 3; Rom. vi. 17; 2 Peter ii. 21. Of Christ's yielding up His spirit, John xix. 30. Of the surrender of Christ and His followers to death, Rom. viii. 32; 2 Corinthians iv. 11; Gal. ii. 20. Of giving over to evil, Rom. i. 26, 28; 1 Cor. v. 5; Eph. iv. 19.