Abraham the tested law-keeper (4:2) and 'heir of the world' (4:13)
Says "If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God" (4:2). "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (4:3; Gen 15:6). The promise "that he would be heir of the world" came "through the righteousness that comes by faith" (4:13).
Jewish writers praised Abraham's tested law-keeping. Sirach says he "kept the law of the Most High" and ἐν πειρασμῷ εὑρέθη πιστός, "when tested was found faithful" (Sir 44:20). Mattathias asks, "Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness?" (1 Macc 2:52), joining Gen 15:6 to Gen 22. Jubilees says Abraham "was perfect in all his deeds with the Lord" (Jub. 23:10) and "in everything wherein He had tried him, he was found faithful" (17:18). Philo calls him a living, unwritten law (Abr. 275–276), and the Mishnah says he kept the whole Torah before it was given, citing Gen 26:5 (m. Qidd. 4:14).
The land promise widens: his seed would inherit "from sea to sea" (Sir 44:21), "the whole earth" (Jub. 22:14; 32:19); the righteous "hope to receive the world which Thou hast promised them" (2 Bar. 14:13; cf. 51:3).
Gathercole (Where Is Boasting?, 2002) reads these as expecting final vindication partly by obedience; Sanders, as covenantal nomism.
Implies Paul grounds the crediting in God, who "justifies the ungodly," not in Abraham's tested faithfulness (4:4–5).
Uncertain Whether Paul answers 1 Macc 2:52 or Sir 44:20 in particular is debated.
Claims
- SaysRom 4:2–3 says that if Abraham was justified by works he would have grounds to boast, but not before God, and quotes Gen 15:6; Rom 4:13 says the promise that he would be heir of the world came through the righteousness of faith.
- ImpliesRom 4:4–5 implies that the crediting of righteousness rests on God who justifies the ungodly, not on Abraham's tested faithfulness.
- UncertainWhether Paul in Rom 4:2–3 answers 1 Macc 2:52 or Sir 44:20 in particular.
Citations
- BSB public domain Rom 4:2–5, 13; Gen 15:6; 26:5
- LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 Sir 44:20 ("συνετήρησεν νόμον Ὑψίστου … ἐν πειρασμῷ εὑρέθη πιστός"), 44:21 ("ἀπὸ θαλάσσης ἕως θαλάσσης"), LXX checked against Swete scan, vol. 2 (1896), p. 737; 1 Macc 2:52 ("Ἀβραὰμ οὐκ ἐν πειρασμῷ εὑρέθη πιστός, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ δικαιοσύνη;"; ℵV οὐχί, εἰς δικαιοσύνην), LXX checked against Swete scan, vol. 3 (1905), p. 601. English: team rendering of Swete
- APOT public domain vol. 2: Jub. 17:18, p. 39; 23:10, p. 48; 22:14, p. 46; 32:19, p. 62; 2 Bar. 14:13, p. 491; 51:3, p. 508 (trans. Charles; all checked on the page images)
- Philo (Yonge) public domain Abr. 275–276 (paraphrased)
- Mishnah (Vilna 1913, Sefaria) public domain m. Qidd. 4:14 (Vilna text on Sefaria, licence Public Domain, checked 2026-10-30; paraphrased)
- 🔒︎ Gathercole, Where Is Boasting? Copyrighted whole work (by reference)
- 🔒︎ Sanders, PPJ Copyrighted whole work (by reference)
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
2026-10-30
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