He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Romans 4:11 · WEBKJVRead the whole chapter →
Where you find this verse
From this verse, the Word reaches
The Scripture echoesGenesis 15:6
Paul builds the argument on the verse where Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
The same threadGenesis 17:10-11
The sign came after the believing, which is why Paul can call it a seal rather than a cause.
“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.”
The same threadRomans 2:29
Paul says the real circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit rather than the letter.
“but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
That reaches back to this verse
The same thread (this verse)Genesis 17:10-11
Paul explains what the sign was for: a seal of the righteousness of the faith Abraham already had.
“This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.”