“Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness” (Romans 4:9).
After a brief foray into the life of Israel’s king David, Paul the Apostle returned to Abraham’s example to pursue another line of evidence concerning “righteousness apart from works.” He did so in the form of a question: Does salvation by faith represent a privilege that extends only to those who have undergone the ritual of circumcision? The answer to that question held interest for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences alike…
“Paul anticipated what his Jewish readers would be thinking: If Abraham was justified by his faith alone, why did God command him and his descendants to be circumcised? His response not only answers those concerned with circumcision, but the millions who still cling to some other kind of religious ceremony or activity as their basis for righteousness.” (1)
From a contemporary perspective, some may also believe that participation in a religious ritual or observance will lead to God’s acceptance or favor. Paul will address that view in the following verse…
“How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised” (Romans 4:10).
Abraham’s example demonstrates that righteousness (or right standing with God) does not come through a ritual act like circumcision. Instead, it comes through faith- specifically, faith in Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf. A ceremonial act (in whatever form it takes) should then flow from our personal convictions and the faith that has already been credited to us as righteousness…
“The apostle pointed out that when God declared Abraham righteous, the patriarch was still ‘uncircumcised.’ He was a virtual Gentile. It was fourteen years later that Abraham underwent circumcision (Gen. 17:24-26). His circumcision was a ‘sign’ (label) of what he already possessed. This point would have encouraged Paul’s Jewish readers, who made so much of circumcision, to keep it in its proper place as secondary to faith. Paul used Abraham as more than just an example of faith, but a model.” (2)
We’ll take a closer look at the Biblical timeline that Paul references here in our next study. But before we continue, we should note that ceremonial observances (especially spiritual ones) are often deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of individuals, families, and cultures. Those who are emotionally invested in such observances may dispute the Biblical teachings from this passage despite our best efforts to present them in a gracious and reasonable manner. Therefore, we should be diligent to pray for those who elevate such observances above the Scriptural teachings presented to us here.
(1) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 4:9–12.
(2) Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Romans 2025 Edition https://soniclight.com/tcon/notes/html/romans/romans.htm