SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:10
¿Cmo pues le fue contada? ¿En la circuncisin, o en la incircuncisin? No en la circuncisin, sino en la incircuncisin.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 4:10
Verse 10. How was it then reckoned?] In what circumstances was Abraham when this blessing was bestowed upon him? When he was circumcised, or before? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.] Faith was reckoned to Abraham for justification, as we read Gen. xv. 6, (where see the note;) but circumcision was not instituted till about fourteen or fifteen years after, Genesis xvii. 1, &c.; for faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness or justification at least one year before Ishmael was born; compare Genesis 15, and 16. At Ishmael's birth he was eighty-six years of age, Gen. xvi. 16; and, at the institution of circumcision, Ishmael was thirteen, and Abraham ninety-nine years old. See Gen. xvii. 24, 25; and see Dr. Taylor.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 10. How was it then reckoned ? etc..] The Arabic version adds, and when; and the Ethiopic version reads it, when was Abraham justified? expressing the sense, not the words of the original text, with which agree the following questions: when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision ? that is, was he justified, or his faith reckoned to him for righteousness, when he was a circumcised, or an uncircumcised person? not in circumcision ; or when he was circumcised; for when it was said of him, that he believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness, ( Genesis 15:6), he was then uncircumcised, and remained so many years after: for this was before the birth of Ishmael, and Ishmael was thirteen years of age when he and his father Abraham were circumcised; so that it must be fourteen years, or thereabout, before his circumcision, that this declaration of his being a justified person was made; wherefore the apostle rightly adds, but in uncircumcision ; or whilst an uncircumcised person: hence it clearly appears that circumcision could not be the cause of his justification, since it followed it; and if Abraham when uncircumcised was a justified person, as it is certain he was, why may not uncircumcised Gentiles be justified also? and especially when it is observed, that the covenant made with Abraham when uncircumcised, included the Gentiles; (see Genesis 12:3 17:4-6).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - To meet the views of the Jews, the apostle first refers to the exampl of Abraham, in whom the Jews gloried as their most renowned forefather However exalted in various respects, he had nothing to boast in the presence of God, being saved by grace, through faith, even as others Without noticing the years which passed before his call, and the failures at times in his obedience, and even in his faith, it wa expressly stated in Scripture that "he believed God, and it was counte to him for righteousness," Ge 15:6. From this example it is observed that if any man could work the full measure required by the law, the reward must be reckoned as a debt, which evidently was not the cas even of Abraham, seeing faith was reckoned to him for righteousness When believers are justified by faith, "their faith being counted for righteousness," their faith does not justify them as a part, small of great, of their righteousness; but as the appointed means of unitin them to Him who has chosen as the name whereby he shall be called, "the Lord our Righteousness." Pardoned people are the only blessed people It clearly appears from the Scripture, that Abraham was justifie several years before his circumcision. It is, therefore, plain tha this rite was not necessary in order to justification. It was a sign of the original corruption of human nature. And it was such a sign as wa also an outward seal, appointed not only to confirm God's promises to him and to his seed, and their obligation to be the Lord's, but likewise to assure him of his being already a real partaker of the righteousness of faith. Thus Abraham was the spiritual forefather of all believers, who walked after the example of his obedient faith. The seal of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification, making us new creatures is the inward evidence of the righteousness of faith.
Greek Textus Receptus
πως 4459 ADV-I ουν 3767 CONJ ελογισθη 3049 5681 V-API-3S εν 1722 PREP περιτομη 4061 N-DSF οντι 5607 5752 V-PXP-DSM η 2228 PRT εν 1722 PREP ακροβυστια 203 N-DSF ουκ 3756 PRT-N εν 1722 PREP περιτομη 4061 N-DSF αλλ 235 CONJ εν 1722 PREP ακροβυστια 203 N-DSF
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:10 {When he was in circumcision} (en peritomei onti). Dative masculine singular of the present active participle of eimi; "to him being in a state of circumcision or in a state of uncircumcision?" A pertinent point that the average Jew had not noticed.
