Abraham Justified before Circumcision

Is this blessing only for the circumcised,(A) then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.[a](B) 10 In what way, then, was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision(C) as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith[b](D) while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father(E) of all who believe(F) but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. 12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:9 Gn 15:6
  2. 4:11 Lit righteousness of faith, also in v. 13

Is this blessing, then, pronounced only on the circumcised or also on the uncircumcised? We say, “Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith[a] while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe[b] without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,(A) 12 and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.

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Footnotes

  1. 4.11 Or trust
  2. 4.11 Or trust