“How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.”
Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! The temporal argument is decisive: Abraham was credited with righteousness before circumcision. Circumcision came later in Genesis 17, as a sign and seal of the righteousness Abraham already possessed through faith. Therefore, Abraham is father of the uncircumcised who believe.
Church Fathers on Romans 4:10
“Comes this blessedness then” (which is the greater thing) “upon the circumcision or upon the uncircumcision?” For now the subject of enquiry is, With whom is this good and great thing to be found; is it with the circumcision or with the uncircumcision? And notice its superiority! For he shows that it is so far from shunning the uncircumcision, that it even dwelt gladly with it before the circumcision. For since he that pronounced it blessed was David, who was himself also…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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