Abraham's Faith in Romans Fourteen
Abraham's Faith in Romans Fourteen
The concept of Abraham's faith is primarily discussed in Romans 4, not Romans 14. However, Romans 14 does contain a related theme of faith and its relation to judgment and accountability before God [1].
In Romans 4, Abraham's faith is presented as a model for Christian faith. According to Paul, Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3, quoting Genesis 15:6) [4]. This faith is not merely a subjective attitude but is directed towards God's promise, specifically the promise that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Romans 4:17-18) [5].
The nature of Abraham's faith is described as believing "against hope in hope" (Romans 4:18), indicating a trust in God's power to fulfill His promises despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles [7]. Abraham's faith is characterized by his confidence in God's ability to "quicken the dead" and to bring life out of death (Romans 4:17, 19) [5].
One tradition interprets Abraham's faith as being counted for righteousness, not as a meritorious work, but as a response to God's promise of redemption through the Messiah. This understanding is seen as consistent with the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone [4, 6]. In this view, Abraham's faith is not a substitute for obedience but is rather opposed to works as a means of justification (Romans 4:4-5) [4].
The connection between Abraham's faith and Romans 14 lies in the theme of judgment and accountability. In Romans 14, Paul discusses the issue of judging one another in matters of conscience, concluding that all will stand before the judgment seat of God (Romans 14:10-12) [2]. This theme is related to Abraham's faith in that both involve trust in God's sovereignty and judgment.
According to one Reformed interpretation, the method of justification by faith has been consistent since the beginning, with Abraham being justified because he believed in the promise of redemption through the Messiah, just as believers are now justified by faith in the fulfillment of that promise [8].
The cross-references between Romans 14 and other biblical passages highlight the theme of faith and judgment. For example, Romans 14:7-9 is cross-referenced with Psalm 118:17, emphasizing the idea that believers live and die to the Lord [3].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 4:16 (YLT) — Because of this <FI>it is<Fi> of faith, that <FI>it may be<Fi> according to grace, for the promise being sure to all the seed, not to that which <FI>is<Fi> of the law only, but also to that which <FI>is<Fi> of the faith of Abraham,”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Isa.45.23 → Rom.14.10-Rom.14.12 (confidence: 16 votes)”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.118.17 → Rom.14.7-Rom.14.9 (confidence: 15 votes)”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 4:3: For what saith the, Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it--his faith. was counted to him for righteousness-- (Gen 15:6). Romish expositors and Arminian Protestants make this to mean that God accepted Abraham's act of believing as a substitute for complete obedience. But this is at variance with the whole spirit and letter of the apostle's teaching. Throughout this whole argument, faith is set in direct opposition to works, in the matter of justification--and even in Rom 4:4-5. The meaning, therefore, cannot possibly be that the mere act of believing”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 4:17: Having observed when Abraham was justified by faith, and why, for the honour of Abraham and for example to us who call him father, the apostle here describes and commends the faith of Abraham, where observe, I. Whom he believed: God who quickeneth. It is God himself that faith fastens upon: other foundation can no man lay. Now observe what in God Abraham's faith had an eye t - o that, certainly, which would be most likely to confirm his faith concerning the things promised: - 1. God who quickeneth the dead. It was promised that he should be the father of many nati”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 4:3: 4:3 Paul quotes Gen 15:6. In response to God’s promise that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, Abraham believed God. It was faith that established Abraham’s relationship with God—not works (Rom 4:3-8), circumcision (4:9-12), the law (4:13-17), or the number of his descendants (4:18-21).”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 4:18: Who against hope believed in hope - The faith of Abraham bore an exact correspondence to the power and never-failing faithfulness of God; for though, in the ordinary course of things, he had not the best foundation of hope, yet he believed that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken; namely, that his posterity should be like the stars of heaven for multitude, and like the dust of the earth.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 23: and yet the justifier of them that believe. The Apostle teaches that such has been the method of justification from the beginning. It was witnessed by the law and the prophets. There had never, since the fall, been any other way of justification possible for men. As God justified Abraham because he believed in the promise of redemption through the Messiah; so He justifies those now who believe in the fulfilment 153 of that promise. ( Rom. iv. 3, 9, 24 .) It was not Abraham’s believing state of mind that was taken for righteousness. It is ”