And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Parallel translations
- WEB He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
- KJV And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
- NKJV and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.
- NASB and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
- NLT And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had 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 is father of the circumcised only when they share his faith, not merely his lineage. True kinship with Abraham is by faith.
Overview
Paul adds that Abraham is the father of circumcised Jews not simply because they bear the mark but because they 'walk in the steps' of his faith. Physical descent or ritual is not enough; one must follow Abraham's believing example. This reinforces that membership in God's family rests on faith in the God who justifies, fully revealed in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- John 8:39–40“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
- Prov 2:20So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.
- Song 1:8If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
- Gal 4:22–31For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
- 2 Cor 12:18I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus exploit you in any way? Did we not walk in the same Spirit and follow in the same footsteps?
- 1 Pet 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
- Rom 9:6–7It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
- Job 33:11He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
- Luke 16:23–31In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
- Matt 3:9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
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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.
How Romans 4:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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