004:004 But in the case of a man who works, pay is not reckoned a favour
but a debt;
004:005 whereas in the case of a man who pleads no actions of his own, but simply believes in Him who declares the ungodly free from guilt, his faith is placed to his credit as righteousness.
004:006 In this way David also tells of the blessedness of the man to
whose credit God places righteousness, apart from his actions.
004:007 "Blessed," he says, "are those whose iniquities have been forgiven,
and whose sins have been covered over.
004:008 Blessed is the man of whose sin the Lord will not take account."
004:009 This declaration of blessedness, then, does it come simply to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? For Abraham's faith—so we affirm—was placed to his credit as righteousness.
004:010 What then were the circumstances under which this took place? Was it after he had been circumcised, or before?
004:011 Before, not after. And he received circumcision as a sign, a mark attesting the reality of the faith-righteousness which was his while still uncircumcised, that he might be the forefather of all those who believe even though they are uncircumcised— in order that this righteousness might be placed to their credit;
004:012 and the forefather of the circumcised, namely of those who not merely are circumcised, but also walk in the steps of the faith which our forefather Abraham had while he was as yet uncircumcised.
004:013 Again, the promise that he should inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his posterity conditioned by Law, but by faith-righteousness.