Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Romans: Chapter 4].
congratulation, in N.T. only here, verse 9; Ac 4:15.
4:7 {Blessed} (\makarioi\). See on Mt 5:3. {Are forgiven}
(\apheth•san\). First aorist passive indicative of \aphi•mi\,
without augment (\apheith•san\, regular form). Paul quotes Ps
32:1f. and as from David. Paul thus confirms his interpretation
of Ge 15:6. {Iniquities} (\anomiai\). Violations of law whereas
\hamartiai\ (sins) include all kinds. {Are covered}
(\epekaluphth•san\). First aorist passive of \epikalupt•\, old
verb, to cover over (upon, \epi\) as a shroud. Only here in N.T.
4:8 {To whom} (\h•i\). But the best MSS. read \hou\ like the LXX
and so Westcott and Hort, "whose sin." {Will not reckon} (\ou m•
logis•tai\). Strong negation by double negative and aorist middle
subjunctive.
4:9 {Is this blessing then pronounced?} (\ho makarismos oun
houtos?\). "Is this felicitation then?" There is no verb in the
Greek. Paul now proceeds to show that Abraham was said in Ge
15:6 to be set right with God by faith _before_ he was
circumcised.
4:10 {When he was in circumcision} (\en peritom•i onti\). Dative
masculine singular of the present active participle of \eimi\;
"to him being in a state of circumcision or in a state of
uncircumcision?" A pertinent point that the average Jew had not
noticed.
4:11 {The sign of circumcision} (\s•meion peritom•s\). It is the
genitive of apposition, circumcision being the sign. {A seal of
the righteousness of the faith} (\sphragida t•s dikaiosun•s t•s
piste•s\). \Sphragis\ is old word for the seal placed on books
(Re 5:1), for a signet-ring (Re 7:2), the stamp made by the
seal (2Ti 2:19), that by which anything is confirmed (1Co
9:2) as here. The circumcision did not convey the righteousness,
but only gave outward confirmation. It came by faith and "the
faith which he had while in uncircumcision" (\t•s en t•i
akrobusti•i\), "the in the state of uncircumcision faith."
Whatever parallel exists between baptism and circumcision as here
stated by Paul argues for faith before baptism and for baptism as
the sign and seal of the faith already had before baptism. {That
he might be} (\eis to einai auton\). This idiom may be God's
purpose (contemplated result) as in \eis to logisth•nai\ below,
or even actual result (so that he was) as in 1:20. {Though they
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