Verse:
Genesis 15:6 And he believed ('amen ) in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness (tsdaqah) .
Commentary by Adam Clarke
Verse 6. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
This I conceive to be one of the most important passages in the whole Old Testament. It properly contains and specifies that doctrine of justification by faith which engrosses so considerable a share of the epistles of St. Paul, and at the foundation of which is the atonement made by the Son of God: And he (Abram) believed heemin, he put faith) in Jehovah, vaiyachshebeita lo, and he counted it-the faith he put in Jehovah, to HIM for righteousness, tsedakak, or justification; though there was no act in the case but that of the mind and heart, no work of any kind. Hence the doctrine of justification by faith, without any merit of works; for in this case there could be none-no works of Abram which could merit the salvation of the whole human race. It was the promise of God which he credited, and in the blessedness of which he became a partaker through faith. See at the close of the chapter; See Clarke on Genesis 15:19.; see also on "Ro 4:13",
Scripture References (NIV)Source
Ro 4:13
13 It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
Commentary by Coffman
And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.
One may only be astounded at the amount of nonsense written about this verse, which is hailed as the plan of salvation for the sinners of all ages, some even claiming that Abram was "saved by faith only," and trying to find here a corroboration of the great Lutheran heresy. There is no truth whatever in such views. Morris even discovered (?) here "a new covenant,"F11 and Unger hailed the passage as "the pattern of a sinner's justification"! F12
It is absolutely impossible properly to observe this place as the record of a new covenant. Gen. 12:1f contains the embryo of all that is given here. Therefore, this chapter has a recapitulation and further explanation of the covenant God had already made with Abram, a covenant upon which Abram acted, which he received in good faith, and in which actions he had already demonstrated his faith by OBEDIENCE, the prime factor without which salvation for anybody, past, present, or future, is totally impossible. Payne strictly understood this and commented that: "It is the tranquil and obedient acceptance of God's plan (of history and of salvation) which places man in the right relationship with God." F13
Luther raised the question of whether or not Abram had been justified already before this time, and upon the flimsiest of reasons decided that here Abram for the first time appears justified. The truth must be that for a long while prior to this reaffirmation of the covenant already in existence, Abram's OBEDIENT faith had been "reckoned unto him for righteousness." This chapter began with the revelation that God was already indeed the shield and "exceeding great reward" of Abram. Therefore, Abram's status before the recapitulation of the covenant here, was definitely NOT that of an alien sinner. As Whiteside, a scholar of great discernment, exclaimed:The notion that Abram had not been justified previously leaves unexplained and, in fact, inexplicable, why God should have providentially intervened in Egypt to rescue him from the situation where his wife was in the harem of Pharaoh, or why God would have aided Abram in the violent little war in which he rescued Lot. No, justification of Abram could not have begun in this chapter. There was a degree in which it already was done, although his final justification in God's sight did not even occur here but came when he offered Isaac (James 2:21).
"One of the strangest things in all the field of Bible exegesis is the contention so generally made that this language refers to the justification of Abraham as an alien sinner. It seems to be taken for granted that up to the time spoken of in this verse, Abraham was an unforgiven, condemned sinner ... The facts are all against such a supposition." F14
Paul's statements concerning this event in such passages as Rom. 4:3,5, etc., have no reference whatever to Abram's receiving justification WITHOUT OBEDIENCE, but to the fact that his justification was not, in any sense, founded upon circumcision and the Law of Moses. No one in any dispensation was ever justified apart from obedience. Abram's justification was totally apart from the Law of Moses, which came over 400 years afterwards; but it was not apart from obedience.
Scripture Reference (NIV)Source
James 2:21 Rom. 4:3,5
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Commentary by John Gill
And he believed in the Lord? and he counted it to him for righteousness;
The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan are, in the essential Word of the Lord, in Christ the Lord his righteousness; he believed in the promise of God, that he should have a seed, and a very numerous one; he believed that the Messiah would spring from his seed; he believed in him as his Saviour and Redeemer; he believed in him for righteousness, and he believed in his righteousness as justifying him before God:
``in the Word of the Lord;''
Source
not the act of his faith, but the object of it; and not the promise he believed, but what was promised, and his faith received, even Christ and his righteousness this was imputed to him without works, and while he was an uncircumcised person, for the proof of which the apostle produces this passage, (Romans 4:3,10,23,24) ; wherefore this is not to be understood of any action of his being esteemed and accounted a righteous one, and he pronounced and acknowledged a righteous person on account of it; for Abram was not justified before God by his own works, but by the righteousness of faith, as all that believe are, that is, by the righteousness of Christ revealed to faith, and received by it: what is imputed is without a man, and the imputation of it depends upon the will of another; such the righteousness of Christ without works imputed by God the Father. This is the first time we read of believing, and as early do we hear of imputed righteousness.
Commentary by John Wesley
Genesis 15:6 Scripture Reference
And he believed in the Lord And he counted it to him for righteousness
- That is, believed the truth of that promise which God had now made him, resting upon the power, and faithfulness of him that made it: see how the apostle magnifies this faith of Abram, and makes it a standing example, Romans 4:19-21. He was not weak in faith; he staggered not at the promise: he was strong in faith; he was fully persuaded. The Lord work such a faith in every one of us.
- That is, upon the score of this he was accepted of God, and, by faith he obtained witness that he was righteous, Hebrews 11:4. This is urged in the New Testament to prove, that we are justified by faith without the works of the law, Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6, for Abram was so justified, while he was yet uncircumcised. If Abram, that was so rich in good works, was not justified by them, but by his faith, much less can we. This faith, which was imputed to Abram for righteousness, had newly struggled with unbelief, Genesis 15:2, and coming off, conqueror, it was thus crowned, thus honoured. Source
Romans 4:19-21 Hebrews 11:4
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead.
20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.Romans 4:3
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Galatians 3:6
3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:2
6 Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
2 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD , what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"
Commentary by Matthew Henry
III. Abram's firm belief of the promise God now made him, and God's favourable acceptance of his faith, Genesis 15:6.
1. He believed in the Lord, that is, he believed the truth of that promise which God had now made him, resting upon the irresistible power and the inviolable faithfulness of him that made it. Hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Note, Those who would have the comfort of the promises must mix faith with the promises. See how the apostle magnifies this faith of Abram, and makes it a standing example, Romans 4:19-21. He was not weak in faith; he staggered not at the promise; he was strong in faith; he was fully persuaded. The Lord work such a faith in every one of us! Some think that his believing in the Lord respected, not only the Lord promising, but the Lord promised, the Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant. He believed in him, that is, received and embraced the divine revelation concerning him, and rejoiced to see his day, though at so great a distance, John 8:56. 2. God counted it to him for righteousness; that is, upon the score of this he was accepted of God, and, as the rest of the patriarchs, by faith he obtained witness that he was righteous, Hebrews 11:4. This is urged in the New Testament to prove that we are justified by faith without the works of the law (Romans 4:4,Ga+3:6); for Abram was so justified while he was yet uncircumcised. If Abram, that was so rich in good works, was not justified by them, but by his faith, much less can we, that are so poor in them. This faith, which was imputed to Abram for righteousness, had lately struggled with unbelief (Genesis 15:2), and, coming off a conqueror, it was thus crowned, thus honoured. Note, A fiducial practical acceptance of, and dependence upon, God's promise of grace and glory, in and through Christ, is that which, according to the tenour of the new covenant, gives us a right to all the blessings contained in that promise. All believers are justified as Abram was, and it was his faith that was counted to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:19-21 John 8:56
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead.
20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
Hebrews 11:4 Romans 4:4
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Ga 3:6
4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. Genesis 15:2
6 Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
2 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD , what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"
Source
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Prepared by William C. Barman for George Young Memorial United Methodist Church -- Palm Harbor, FL on 9/22/03; 9:16:52 AM