Глава 4

(Rom. 4:1-5) “What shall we say - Abraham our father was found according to the flesh,” that is: since sons of stubbornness came from his generation? “For if Abraham was justified by works,” then he has something to boast about from the works that justified him, “but not (in relation to) God,” Who had compassion on him. Therefore, Scripture does not say that Abraham “worked” and this was imputed to him as righteousness, but only: “he believed Him who justifies the wicked, and... this is imputed to him... as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). If, therefore, you want to be justified, then what need do you have for circumcision? After all, faith justified Abraham before circumcision, for “to the one who works, reward is not imputed by grace, but according to duty,” meanwhile the reward was imputed to Abraham by grace. But if, he says, you boast in your works, then we resort to Abraham, who, like us, was weak and justified through faith. If the people (Israel) and the pagans were faithful to their laws, then there would be a reward according to their deserts. But if everyone has sinned and is therefore incapable of restoration, then they are already justified through grace, that is, when, like Abraham, they believe in the One who justifies sinners - and this is to reveal that those who, having become unhappy, trust in the law, desire pardon by grace. ( Rom. 4:6-9 ) Continues: “David says: Blessed is he to whom God imputed His righteousness,” in order to show that God justifies him without works. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven” ( Ps. 32:1-2 ). Come, he says, let’s consider: what is this bliss from? - In uncircumcision?... But they believed, and their “sins were covered” through baptism. “In circumcision and?...” But they expose him daily and the laws of sacrifices dishonor him, that is, by revealing the sins that were committed during the sacrifices. ( Rom. 4:10–12 ) Again his speech stops at Abraham’s uncircumcision. So, he says, “how is faith credited to Abraham as righteousness? “When was he circumcised or uncircumcised?” Look, he says, what is the power of faith? It is not written that Abraham was justified when he received circumcision, but when he believed. However, he did not neglect it and did not consider it useless, but set it up as a crown that completes victory. The crown is not victory, but it certifies victory. He established circumcision as a sign to condemn the justification that was in uncircumcision - that is, the justification that he received in uncircumcision, in order to be the father of all who believe in uncircumcision, so that both he and they will be credited with believing the truth and he will be called the father of circumcision for those who follow the paths of faith in the uncircumcision of Abraham. (Rom.4:13-14) After all, it was not through the law, which was given four hundred years later (Gal.3:17), that the promise was given to Abraham that he would be the heir of the world, but through the truth of faith. If there were an inheritance from the law, then faith would be in vain, the promise would be in vain, for there could be no fulfillment of the law. Therefore he makes a preliminary promise to a friend outside of the law; however, about sins that were contrary to the truth, the foreshadowing was expressed briefly: it was only concentrated in blessings, and this for the sake of the law - that everything could prevent curses. (Rom.4:15) “For wrath makes the law.” Believers and unbelievers were to accept circumcision, so that no one would refuse. since faith does not depend on the tyrant, but on the will of man, then all the deeds of tyranny were committed in the name of the law, and the deeds of freedom - in the name of faith. And since the world sinned in relation to the faith of Abraham, which was the product of free will, while the law was a terrible tyrant, it compared that time of the law with childhood, and the other (time) with youth; not because these times ruled over us, but because these very times received their names from our deeds, just as people received their names from the fruits of their deeds. ( Rom. 4:16 ) And just as in times of weakness the law was useful, so now it is harmful; for faith came, which justified Abraham before the law. “Therefore,” he says, “not from works, but from faith... so that grace may endure” in all generations, not only among those who are of the law, that is, not only among the Jews, but also among the Gentiles, who are from the faith of our father Abraham. “He,” as it is written, “is the father of many nations,” of all who believe like you, “in God, giving life to the dead and calling things that do not exist as if they exist” (Rom. 4:16) (Gen. 15, Gen. 17); and, as he called Isaac (to being) from what was not, so he took him away from the altar (Gen. 17:5, 22:1). If circumcision had only been discussed, it could have been performed by those listening; but since it is said about spouses without offspring, which will grow and multiply like sand and stars, then judge: what deserves (more) surprise - universal punishment in one moment, or patience in the future? (Rom. 4:17-25) “He believed,” he says, “in God, giving life to the dead and calling to him those things that do not exist as if they were,” that is, from the dead body of Abraham and the barren womb of Sarah he gave life and brought forth those who were not at that time. Since, through the promise given to them, they were given, then God praised the faith of their father, who believed in his generations, so that whoever born of him, he would be like his father in faith and would have the same faith that his parents had before the birth of his son. This is the meaning of the words that he says: “against hope, he believed,” and adds: “and... he did not give up his dead body and... the dead womb of Sarah,” and so on, “And not only,” he says, “for his sake it was written that it was imputed to him... in truth, but also for your sake, since both him and you will be “imputed” with the truth; for you have believed in Him “Who raised up... our Lord... Jesus Christ, who was delivered up for the sake of our sins and was raised again for our justification.” You might be interested in: