Bible Strands
Romans 4:12
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Roman congregation while structuring his argument about Abraham’s status as the progenitor of all believers. He clarifies Abraham’s role at the precise moment in his reasoning where he distinguishes between physical rites and the faith that preceded them.
The words — πατέρα (patera) = father and περιτομῆς (peritomēs) = of circumcision. The phrase “father of circumcision” is immediately qualified by the particle μόνον (monon) = only, restricting the title to those who replicate Abraham’s uncircumcised faith rather than merely possessing the physical sign.
The thread — The motif of following a path appears in Proverbs 2:20, Song of Solomon 1:8, and John 8:39, where obedience is tied to emulating righteous ancestors. In Romans 4:11 and 4:13, Paul extends this pattern by locating the true lineage in credited righteousness through faith rather than legal observance.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to abandon ritual exclusivity as the basis for covenant standing. It demands that anyone claiming Abraham’s inheritance actively share the same uncircumcised faith that earned his righteousness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 2:20 So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.
- Song of Solomon 1:8 If 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.
- John 8:39 “Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
- 2 Corinthians 12:18 I 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?
- Galatians 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
- 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
- Job 33:11 He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
- Luke 16:23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
- Romans 9:6 It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
- Matthew 3:9 And 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.