Romans 4:1-17

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(December 0708)

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • IV.V.3, IV.VII.2, IV.VIII.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180) 
  • Chapter III, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • II.15, V.1, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter VI, On Patience, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • II.2, On The Apparel of Women, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • V.3, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • Chapter VI, Scorpiace,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • Chapter VI, On Monogamy, Tertullian (c. 215)
  • VI.2, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
  • From Martin Luther's Bible Commentary (1545).
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "The conclusion of this argument: the salvation and justification of the posterity of Abraham (that is, of the Church which is composed of all believers) proceeds from faith which lays hold on the promise made to Abraham, and which promise Abraham himself first of all laid hold on."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The seal of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification, making us new creatures, is the inward evidence of the righteousness of faith."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "That it might appear to flow from the free love of God, and that the promise might be firm, sure, and effectual, to all the spiritual seed of Abraham; not only Jews, but gentiles also, if they follow his faith."
  • Justification by Faith (Rom 4:5): Sermon by John Wesley.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Abraham had to believe that the Divine power, which can give life to the dead, would give new life to his aged body and that of Sarah."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, Sarah Henrich, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "God did not and does not wait for us to become a people. 'While we were yet sinners,'  as Paul will say later in this letter, God brought us into relationship, gave us the gift of the Spirit, showed mercy, and in all that acted faithfully to the promises long made and never forgotten."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Lent 2," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "No priestly manipulations, no religious powerbrokers, no secret or ceremonial rites, no works prescribed in biblical law are required. It just needs us to believe in this love."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Abraham Was Justified by Faith," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Father Abraham..." Expository Essay, Dr. William R. Long. Part 2.
  • "The Basis and Benefits of Justification (Romans 3:27 - 5:21)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  • "Abraham: The Faith of our Father (Romans 3:27 - 4:25)," by Robert Deffinbaugh at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
• Articles & Background:
  • "Justification by Faith: The Case of Abraham and David (Romans 4:1-8)," by Hampton Keathley IV at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
  • "Abraham and the Righteousness of God," Lloyd Gaston, at the Jewish-Christian Relations site.
    • "The interpretation in Romans is then something like Ramban's second explanation."
  • "Justification as Healing: The Little-Known Luther," Ted M Dorman, PhD. Quodlibet Online Journal, 2000.
    • "The nature of justifying faith must be seen as a wholehearted confidence in God which manifests itself in ongoing obedient trust in God's promises of a future 'most complete cure' of all the remnants of sin which so afflict us in this life...This is 'faith working itself out in love' -- a faith which counts on God for everything, from initial justification through spiritual healing to final glorification."
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  • Baird, William, "Abraham in the New Testament: Tradition and New Identity," Interpretation, 1988.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bell, Daniel M., "Jesus, The Jews, and the Politics of God's Justice," Ex Auditu, 2006.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Cosgrove, Charles H., "Justification in Paul: A Linguistic and Theological Reflection," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1987.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Eisenbaum, Pamela, "A Remedy for Having Been Born of Woman: Jesus, Gentiles, and Genealogy in Romans," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2004.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Fritsche, Joel P., "Homiletical Helps on LSB Series A - Epistles," (Romans 4:1-8, 13-17 begins on page 70), Concordia Journal, 2008.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Goppelt, Leonhard, tranlsated by Mathias Rissi, "Paul and Heilgeschichte: Conclusions from Romans 4 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13," Interpretation, 1967.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Greene, John T., "Paul's Hermeneutic Versus Its Competitors," Journal of Religious Thought, 1985.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Hays, Richard B., "'Have We Found Abraham to Be Our Forefather according to the Flesh?' A Reconsideration of Romans 4:1," Novum Testamentum, 1985.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Jenkins, C. Ryan, "Faith and Works in Paul and James," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2002.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • López, René A., "Is Faith a Gift from God or a Human Exercise?" Bibliotheca Sacra, 2007.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Maxwell, David R., "Justified by Works and Not by Faith Alone: Reconciling Paul and James," Concordia Journal, 2007.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Steinmetz, David C., "Calvin and Abraham: The Interpretation of Romans 4 in the Sixteenth Century," Church History, 1988.
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      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
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  • Westerholm, Stephen, "The Righteousness of the Law and the Righteousness of Faith in Romans," Interpretation, 2004. (See also, Romans, issue focus for Interpretation, 2004.)
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• Reviews:
  • Simon J. Gathercole Where Is Boasting?: Early Jewish Soteriology and Paul's Response in Romans 1-5. Eerdmans, 2002.
    • Review by James P. Sweeney in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature.
    • Review by Jouette M Bassler in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2003.
    • Review by Sigurd Grindheim in The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2004.
    • Review by Douglas Moo, Trinity Journal, 2004.
• Sermons:
  • "The Nucleus: Believe in Jesus Christ," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington - Sermons from Seattle.
• With Children:
  • "Paul Writes About Faith," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Romans 4:3, 7, 16. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • The Billabong, by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia: scroll down for hymn suggestions.
  • Hymn selections (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Romans