How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Parallel translations
- WEB How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
- BSB In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.
- NKJV How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
- NASB How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
- NLT But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Abraham was counted righteous before he was circumcised, not after. Faith, not circumcision, was the basis of his righteousness.
Overview
Paul notes the crucial timing: Genesis 15 credits Abraham's faith as righteousness in chapter 15, while circumcision comes later in Genesis 17. Therefore Abraham was justified while still uncircumcised, like a Gentile. This proves that righteousness rests on faith, not on the rite of circumcision or membership in Israel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gal 6:15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
- Gal 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- Gen 15:5–6And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
- Gen 17:1And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
- Gen 16:1–3Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
- Gen 15:16But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
- Gen 17:10This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
- 1 Cor 7:18–19Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
- Gen 17:23–27And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
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Original language
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