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Romans 4:10

in Romans 4

In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:

KJV

How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

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This verse in Romans 4

Commentary

14 notes on this verse

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES · Written before 384.

What did Abraham believe? He believed that he would have a descendant, a son, in whom all the nations would be justified by faith while they were still uncircumcised, as Abraham then was.

This site's exposition

this blessing only on the circumcised

on Romans 4:9-10

The question is whether the blessing reaches the uncircumcised as well. Genesis 15 credits the righteousness to Abraham, and Genesis 17 gives him circumcision fourteen chapters later. Abraham was uncircumcised when God credited it.

This site's exposition

In what context was it credited

Wesley dates the gap by Ishmael, unborn when Abraham was declared righteous and thirteen years old at the circumcision. Barnes names what hung on the order: had the crediting come after, a Jew could claim circumcision had earned it.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS · Written before 253.

proposed

"Is this blessedness then upon the circumcision, or also upon the uncircumcision? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham unto justice. How then was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or when he was in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Romans 8 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision?" For since he that pronounced it blessed was David, who was himself also in a state of circumcision, and he was speaking to those in that state, see how eagerly Paul contends for applying what he said to the uncircumcised. For after joining the ascription of blessedness to righteousness, and showing that they are one and the same thing, he enquires how Abraham came to be righteous. For if the ascription of blessedness belong to the righteous, and Abraham was made righteous, let us see how he was made righteous, as uncircumcised or circumcised? Uncircumcised, he says.

A commentator

Theodoret of Cyrus

INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS · Written before 458.

proposed

Paul demonstrates that faith was not only older than the law, it was older than circumcision as well.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Romans · Written before 1274.

proposed

Third, from this text he concludes to the answer, although he states it in the form of a question: how then was it reputed to him, namely, Abraham's faith as justice; that is, when he was in circumcision, i.e., when he was circumcised, or in …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Romans · Written before 1107.

proposed

Let us see, then, when he was justified: before circumcision or after circumcision? Of course, before circumcision. Therefore, blessedness falls upon uncircumcision, that is, it belongs more to uncircumcision than to circumcision.
6 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Not in circumcision - Not after he was circumcised; for he was justified before Ishmael was born, Gen. xv, 1-21; but he was not circumcised till Ishmael was thirteen years old, Gen. xvii, 25.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

28 ): therefore God gives honour to faith, great faith, because faith, great faith, gives honour to God. He was fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able to perform, plerophoretheis -- was carried on with the greatest confidence and assurance; it is a metaphor taken from ships that come into the harbour with full sail.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens

How was it then reckoned?....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

His faith was counted to him for righteousness while he was in uncircumcision. 6 , and he was not circumcised till ch. xvii. . Abraham is expressly said to be justified by faith fourteen years, some say twenty-five years, before he was circumcised.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

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 15:6, (see the note on Gen 15:6); but circumcision was not instituted till about fourteen or fifteen years after, Gen 17:1, etc.; for faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness or justification at least one year before Ishmael was born; compare Genesis 15, and
How - In what circumstances, or time. When he was in circumcision ... - Before or after he was circumcised? This was the very point of the inquiry. For if he was justified by faith after he was circumcised, the Jew might pretend that it was in virtue of his circumcision; that even his faith was acceptable, because he was circumcised. But if it was before he was circumcised, this plea could not be set up; and the argument of the apostle was confirmed by the case of Abraham, the great father and model of the Jewish people, that circumcision and the deeds of the Law did not conduce to justification; and that as Abraham was justified without those works, so might others be, and the pagan, therefore, might be admitted to similar privileges. Not in circumcision - Not being circumcised, or after he was circumcised, but before. This was the record in the case; Gen 15:6; Compare Gen 17:10.

The words behind it

15 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

10 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Galatians 6:15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.4 worksGalatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.3 worksGenesis 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.2 worksGenesis 16:1–3Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.2 worksGenesis 17:10This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.2 worksGenesis 15:16In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”2 works
The other 4 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Corinthians 7:18–19Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.2 worksGenesis 17:23–27On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.2 worksGenesis 15:5–6And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”2 worksActs 7:8Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Genesis 17:1

    When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:13

      I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

    • Ephesians 3:20

      Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

    • Luke 1:6

      Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

    • Genesis 18:14

      Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”

    • Genesis 6:9

      This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.

  • Through

    Galatians 6:15

    For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 5:17

      Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

    • Colossians 3:10–11

      and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

  • Through

    Galatians 5:6

    For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 6:15

      For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.

Where this verse is studied

About Romans

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, about 1618 to 1620, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Public domain.
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, about 1618 to 1620, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Public domain.
Romans: the study guide →Read Romans 4 →
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; John Chrysostom, Homily on Romans 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Romans and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Romans.

Read on in Romans 4 →