_ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED. BY FAITH ALONE HE AND HIS SEED RECEIVED THE PROMISE. ABRAHAM IS THE FATHER OF ALL THAT BELIEVE. OUR FAITH ALSO SHALL BE IMPUTED TO US FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS._ _Anno Domini 58._ THE Apostle having, in the preceding chapter,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SHALL WE THEN SAY— In the foregoing chapter the Apostle has proved, that neitherJews nor Gentiles have a right to the blessings of God's peculiar kingdom, otherwise than by grace, which is free to the one, as well as the other. In this chapter he advances to a new argument, admirably adapted to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT NOT BEFORE GOD— This appears to be the Apostle's answer to the Jew's objection (Romans 4:1.), and it implies that Abraham might have some sort of _glorying,_ possibly such as the Apostle himself had, 1 Corinthians 9:15. 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 10:18; 2 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS COUNTED— The original word 'Ελογισθη, in our translation, is rendered _counted, reckoned,_ Romans 4:4, &c. and _imputed,_ Romans 4:6, &c.: but as the word and the sense are constantly the same, it would certainly have been better to have rendered it constantly by one word; and _reckoned_ seem... [ Continue Reading ]
OF GRACE— _Of favour._ Raphelius has shewn that the Greek word Μισθος does not only mean a _reward of debt,_ but also a _gift of favour;_ and that the phrase μισθον δωρεην, occurs in Herodotus: so that a _reward of grace_ or _favour_ is a classical as well as theological expression.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UNGODLY— Abraham is the subject of the Apostle's discourse; and he plainly hints, though he did not choose to speak out, that even Abraham before his conversion was chargeable with not paying due reverence and worship to God, as the word 'Ασεβης, which we render _ungodly,_ properly imports. See... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THE MAN, &C.— See on Psalms 32:1 and the _Inferences. Will not impute sin_] What the _imputing_ or _reckoning of righteousness_ is, Romans 4:6 may be seen in this verse, namely. "the not reckoning of sin to any one;"—"the not putting sin to his account;" the Apostle, in these verses, usin... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT IN CIRCUMCISION, BUT IN UNCIRCUMCISION— Faith was reckoned to Abraham for justification, Genesis 15:6 but circumcision was not instituted till about fourteen or fifteen years after that, Genesis 17:1; Genesis 17:27 for _faith was reckoned to Abraham_ for justification before Ishmael was born, at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE RECEIVED THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION— Hence it appears, that the covenant established with Abraham, Genesis 17:2 is the same with that, Genesis 12:2 and Genesis 15:5; Genesis 15:21. For circumcision was not a seal of any new grant, but of the justification which Abraham had received before he wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEIR OF THE WORLD— Abraham and his seed together are the _heir of the world;_ for the promise is made to both; and the original word αυτου includes both: and _his seed,_ in the next verse, are called _heirs_ as well as he; that is to say, _heirs_ of the world, not _lords_ and _possessors_ of it,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THEY WHICH ARE OF THE LAW BE HEIRS— The Apostle here speaks of the performance of the law, with reference to a _moral_ impossibility: for it seems evident from what follows, that the law is to be considered as insisting on an obedience absolutely perfect: so that those good men who were justi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE NO LAW IS, &C.— "Of that concerning which there is no law, with the sanction of a punishment annexed, there can be no transgression, incurring wrath or punishment." Thus it may be rendered, if we read the original word ου, with an aspiration, as some do: but whether it be taken to signify _whe... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IT IS OF FAITH, THAT IT MIGHT BE BY GRACE— _By favour._ Here it should be well observed, that _faith_ and _favour_ do mutually and necessarily infer each other; for the _grace_ or _favour of God_ in its own nature requires faith in us, and faith on our part in its own nature supposes the g... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN, &C.— That Abraham's being _the father of many nations,_ has relation to the covenant that God made with him, may be seen Genesis 17:4. _Behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations: neither shall thy name any more be called Abram; but thy name shall... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEREFORE IT WAS IMPUTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS— To what has been said concerning the word rendered _imputed_ in Romans 4:8 we add the following remarks: All manner of _imputation_ seems to be a metaphor taken from books of account between creditor and debtor; and from _mercantile_ affairs, it... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FOR US ALSO— _But for our sake also._... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WAS DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFENCES— See chap. Romans 3:25 Romans 5:6. Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:14; 2 Chronicles 1:14. Col 1:14; Colossians 1:20. 1 Timothy 2:6. Titus 2:14. 1 Corinthians 15:17 [ Continue Reading ]