Romans 4 - In Depth Bible Commentaries

464relationship."465 466 4674.23 Now it was not written for him alone that "It was considered in him," 4.24461(...continued)the constancy of Abraham's trust can be considered accurate. If it is understood to mean thatAbraham never once questioned, or puzzled, or argued with God, it is simply untrue to theGenesis story.462Moo comments that “‘Wherefore’ indicates that this verse draws a consequence orconclusion from the preceding verses...With a last reference to Genesis 15:6, Paul rounds offthe discussion of that verse which has been the constant touchstone since verse 3. Now, in asense, Paul’s ‘historical’ exposition is ended, and he can turn in application to his Christianreaders.” (P. 286)463The conjunction kai, is read by Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, Ephraemi Rescriptus, acorrector of Bezae, Psi, Minuscules 33, 1739, 1881, the “Majority Text,” a majority of the OldLatin witnesses and the Bohairic Coptic.It is omitted by Vaticanus, the first writer of Bezae, F, G, a few other Greekmanuscripts, the Old Latin Manuscripts b, m, the Peshitta Syriac and the Coptic tradition.thBecause of this balance of the textual evidence, Nestle-Aland 27 edition has placedthe conjunction in the text, but within brackets, to indicate uncertainty as to its originality. Herewe think the decision to place within brackets is much more reasonable.464The consideration of Abraham's trust as a right-relationship, as stated in Genesis 15:6,was validated and confirmed by the much older Abraham, when he was willing to offer upIsaac in obedience to the divine word, as recorded in Genesis 22. It is as if Paul meant to saythat YHWH God, who knew the end of the story at its beginning, counted that life of constantdialogue with the divine promise, and its successful conclusion in heart-wrenching obedience,as the kind of trust that is in fact a right-relationship with God.465Moo comments on verses 23-25 that “While these three verses are related to verses 18-22, they can be considered a separate paragraph because they draw conclusions from theentire exposition of verses 3-22. Paul has, of course, applied his far-ranging exposition ofGenesis 15:6 to Christians throughout the chapter, in both explicit and implicit ways. Butnowhere does he so solemnly and clearly state the application as he does here.” (Pp. 286-87)466No, the ancient biblical story is not just a matter of history, or of ancient facts. Muchmore, it is written "on our behalf," "for us." We can be thankful for the Genesis story ofAbraham. It explodes many modern views of piety, and what it means to be "religious." Itrestores honesty, and humanness to our distorted pictures of what it means to walk by trust inGod. It is so human a story, so much like us, that it gives us great hope and courage to walkin the footsteps of the trust of Abraham, our father.467The phrase eivj dikaiosu,nhn, “for right-relationship,” is interpolated into the text at thispoint by a corrector of Bezae, Minuscule 1241, a few other Greek manuscripts, theClementine Vulgate and the Peshitta Syriac.(continued...)251