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11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal on the righteousness received through faith while he was uncircumcised. Thus he was to be the father of all the uncircumcised who believe, so that to them [also] righteousness might be credited,(A) 12 as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still uncircumcised.

Inheritance Through Faith. 13 It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith.(B) 14 For if those who adhere to the law are the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.(C) 15 For the law produces wrath;(D) but where there is no law, neither is there violation.[a] 16 For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us,(E) 17 as it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:15 Law has the negative function of bringing the deep-seated rebellion against God to the surface in specific sins; see note on Rom 1:18–32.

11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(A) So then, he is the father(B) of all who believe(C) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(D) that he would be heir of the world,(E) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(F) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(G) 15 because the law brings wrath.(H) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(I)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(J) and may be guaranteed(K) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(L) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a](M) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(N) to the dead and calls(O) into being things that were not.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5