Romans 4:3

The scripture. The passage quoted is from Gen. 15:6. The reading is that of the LXX. In Genesis the passage appears as a comment on Abraham’s faith in the promise that his descendants should be as numberless as the stars.

Believed. Gr. pisteud , the verb form of the noun pistis, “faith” (see on ch. 3:3). Hence the quotation could be rendered, “Abraham had faith in God,” or, “Abraham put his faith in God.” Abraham’s faith was not merely a belief in something impersonal, but a personal trust and confidence in God (see on ch. 3:22).

Counted. Gr. logizomai. The same word is translated “reckoned” (v. 4) and “imputeth” (v. 6). In classical Greek and in the papyri the term was used in connection with the keeping of accounts. Abraham’s faith was set down on the credit side for righteousness. The Hebrew word used in Gen. 15:6 ( chashab ) means “to think,” “to regard,” “to consider,” “to reckon.” It occurs in 1 Sam. 1:13, “Therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.” Compare the use of chashab in Gen. 38:15; 2 Sam. 19:19; Ps. 32:2; Isa. 10:7; Jer. 36:3; Hosea 8:12.

For righteousness. The legal implications of the reckoning of Abraham’s faith for righteousness have been the source of earnest debate by many students of the Bible. But it may be well to observe here that it is possible to discuss the plan of righteousness by faith in such legalistic terms that it becomes no longer righteousness by faith at all. The Jews received the principles of righteousness by faith at Mt. Sinai, but because of their legalistic attitude toward this plan for their restoration, they soon turned it into righteousness by works.

The fact that Abraham’s faith was reckoned to him as righteousness does not mean that faith possesses in itself some merit that can earn justification (see EGW Supplementary Material on eh. 4:3-5). It was Abraham’s faith in God that was accounted as righteousness. Such faith is a relation, an attitude, a disposition of man toward God. It implies a readiness to receive with joy whatever God may reveal, and to do with joy whatever God may direct. Abraham loved and trusted and obeyed God because he knew Him and was His friend (James 2:21-23). His faith was a genuine relationship of love, confidence, and submission. Moreover, Abraham knew the gospel of salvation, he knew that his justification depended on the atoning sacrifice of the One to come (Gal. 3 :8; cf. John 8:56). At the time of the making of the covenant, the plan of redemption was “opened to him, in the death of Christ, the great sacrifice, and his coming in glory” (PP 137). Abraham believed in the promise of the Messiah, and his “faith was fixed upon the Redeemer to come” (PP 154). It was Abraham’s thankful and confident acceptance of the atonement and of the righteousness of Christ in place of his own unrighteousness that was credited to him for righteousness. This is the same experience of justification by faith that is enjoyed by every believing Christian.