Gen.15:6(LXX).Gen 15:6 is also quoted in Rom. 4:3-5. According to Paul’s interpretation of the case of Abraham, faith is not a matter of the good works that are presumed to bring salvation. Rather, faith is the presupposition and the ground of the good works of obedience.1) And Abraham’s circumcision was not the means of his justification, but the sign and seal of the justification through faith that preceded his good works (Rom. 4:9-11). In light of the fact the Abraham was justified prior to his circumcision and also prior to the law that was to be given 430 years later, we cannot say that the law is the necessary means of salvation. The point of Paul’s argument is that Abraham was justified because he believed in God. “It did not change Abraham’s person, it changed his status with God. Although he was not himself righteous, God regarded him as being righteous” (R. C. H. Lenski). This is the proper meaning of justification. The historical background of the idea of justification can be found in the OT (Judg. 5:23, Ex. 23:7), and the meaning of justification is legal. A. Deissmann says, “In
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ 1) cf. the present writer’s interpretation of Jam 2:23.
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