An Objection Answered
AN OBJECTION ANSWERED
ROMANS 4:9-12
Paul continues to explore the importance of Abraham’s faith.
It should be understood that Paul is still imagining a debate with a keen-minded Jew such as he must often have held in the synagogues and with the rabbis (Acts 17:2; 28:23). The person he is discussing matters with concedes his point about Abraham. Very well, Abraham was justified by faith, but is he not the father of the Jews (John 8:33), and does not that suggest that the dispensation of such grace is for the privileged nation only? Paul replies with a typical rabbinical argument. In writing to the Galatians he points out that the covenant with Abraham was 430 years earlier in history than the giving of the Law, and therefore took precedence over the Mosaic code (Galatians 3:17). Similarly, here he points out that the rite of circumcision, the national “sign in the flesh” of the Jewish people, was instituted (Genesis 17:10ff.) after the covenant, in fact fourteen years later. The argument for a Jew would be strong. The objector is brought back to the same point of refutation in a carefully constructed argument. 4:1-8 correspond to 3:27f. and 4:9-12 to 3:29-31.
Two further points might have been raised. The covenant with Abraham had international reference (Genesis 12:3). Also this was the implication of the change of name (Genesis 17:5) from Abram, which seems to mean “exalted father,” to Abraham, which means “father of a multitude.” That multitude, too, if the dual figure of speech is to be pressed, is of earthly and heavenly progeny (Genesis 22:17), not only the Hebrew people who have penetrated all nations, and the Semite descendants of Ishmael, but also a spiritual posterity, those who, by faith, become the children of the father of the faithful.
It is moving to see the sweep of history which began with the obedience of one person who had a God-given vision, and pursued it in faith, one person like any other person, stumbling, rising, failing but carrying on. There is no calculating the end of one act of trust, sacrifice and godly endeavor.
Meditation John 11:40.