applies it, especially, to the accomplishment of his word: for the hand of God is ever ready to
execute whatever he has declared by his mouth.
It seems strange to me, that Erasmus approved of the relative in the masculine gender; for
though the sense is not changed, we may yet come nearer to the Greek words of Paul. The verb, I
know, is passive;^148 but the abruptness may be lessened by a little change.
22.And it was therefore imputed,^149 etc. It becomes now more clear, how and in what manner
faith brought righteousness to Abraham; and that was, because he, leaning on God’s word, rejected
not the promised favor. And this connection of faith with the word ought to be well understood and
carefully remembered; for faith can bring us nothing more than what it receives from the word.
Hence he does not become immediately just, who is imbued only with a general and confused idea
that God is true, except he reposes on the promise of his favor.
Romans 4:23-25
- Non est autem scriptum propter ipsum
tantum, imputatum fuisse illi; - Now it was not written for his sake alone,
that it was imputed to him; - Sed etiam propter nos, quibus imputabitur
credentibus in eum, qui excitavit lesum Dominum
nostrum ex mortuis: - But for us also, to whom it shall be
imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead; - Qui traditus fuit propter delicta nostra, et
excitatus propter nostram justificationem. - Who was delivered for our offences, and
was raised again for our justification. - Now it was not written,etc. A proof from example is not always valid, of which I have
before reminded you; lest this should be questioned, Paul expressly affirms, that in the person of
Abraham was exhibited an example of a common righteousness, which belongs equally to all.
We are, by this passage, reminded of the duty of seeking profit from the examples recorded in
Scripture. That history is the teacher of what life ought to be, is what heathens have with truth said;
but as it is handed down by them, no one can derive from it sound instruction. Scripture alone justly
claims to itself an office of this kind. For in the first place it prescribes general rules, by which we
may test every other history, so as to render it serviceable to us: and in the second place, it clearly
points out what things are to be followed, and what things are to be avoided. But as to doctrine,
which it especially teaches, it possesses this peculiarity, — that it clearly reveals the providence of
God, his justice and goodness towards his own people, and his judgments on the wicked.
What then is recorded of Abraham is by Paul denied to have been written only for his sake; for
the subject is not what belongs to the special call of one or of any particular person; but that way
(^148) The verb is, , used here, and perhaps in one other place, Hebrews 12:26, in an active sense. It is usually found, in the
sense of promising, in the middle voice, as in Mark 14:11; Acts 7:5; Hebrews 6:13, etc. It is an anomaly that is to be met with
sometimes in Greek authors. — Ed.
(^149) As in a former instance in Romans 4:3, there is no nominative case to this verb: it is supplied by the sentence. This is the
case not unfrequently in languages, such as Greek and Hebrew, in which the person is included in the verb itself. There is no
nominative in the Welsh version, and there seems to be no need of it, Amhyny y cyvrivwyd iddo yn gyviawnder
“It is most true, as Paul says to the Romans, that by faith Abraham was justified, and not by obedience: but it is just as true
what he says to the Hebrews, that it was by faith that Abraham obeyed.” — Chalmers.