Romans 4:1

What shall we say then, that Abraham our father, as perteining to the flesh, hath found? Romans 4:1 (KJV)

The book of Romans, written by the apostle Paul, is a letter addressed to the Christian community in Rome. In this section Paul focuses on the theme of justification by faith, presenting arguments and examples to demonstrate that both Jews and Gentiles are justified through faith in Christ, not by works of the law.

In Romans 4 Paul introduces Abraham as a prime example of faith. He points to Abraham, revered as the patriarch and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people, to illustrate the principle of justification by faith.

The verse begins with the question, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?” Paul is asking what Abraham discovered or attained in terms of his relationship with God and his standing before Him.

The phrase “as pertaining to the flesh” refers to Abraham’s physical descent as the patriarch of the Jewish nation (ethnic lineage) and his natural birthright as a human being from Adam. Paul acknowledges Abraham’s physical lineage but is focusing on something beyond that—namely, Abraham’s faith and its implications.

In the following verses Paul explains that Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3). This means that Abraham’s trust in God, demonstrated by his obedience and willingness to leave his homeland, was regarded as righteousness in God’s eyes.

Paul’s purpose in discussing Abraham is to show that the principle of justification by faith is not exclusive to the Jews but is applicable to all people, including the Gentiles. He explains that anyone who believes in Christ, similar to Abraham, will be justified by faith, not by works of the law.

Overall, Romans 4:1 emphasizes the importance of faith and its role in the justification of believers. It uses Abraham as an example to illustrate that faith, rather than works or physical descent, is what leads to righteousness in God’s sight.