ST. CATHARINES CONCORDIA - Brock University

ABRAM IN EGYPT: SINNER OR SAINT?
John R. Wilch
In Egypt, Abram passed off his wife Sarai as his sister (Gen. 12:13). Was he guilty of
lying according lo natural law, so that hc maliciously deceived the Egyptians (see
1218-19)? Or did Abram act n~dently according to the Bccdom of thc Christian lifc
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that is oriented by the Gospel? L~kevery other believer, Abram was both a saint and
a sinner. But how should he be evaluated in this incident'! Most commentalors mince
no words in denouncing Abram's action in Egypt as a dcccption that broke God's Law.
However, Martin Luther is conspicuous in arguing that Abram did not con~nlit a breach
of Christian ethics--indeed, that he was even led by the Holy Spirit in his action!
Now, E. Edward Hackmann rejected the designation of "Christian ethics" on the
premise that "the Christian lire is not a lire oS ethics [i.e., according to a law-oriented
system] but a lifc of sanctification livcd in the fear and love of God, in faith in Christ,
through the power of the Holy Spii-it" [i.e., oriented by the ~ospel].~
1. ABRAM'S LIE
Luther stressed Abram's dilemma: God's Promise of eventual blessing for all
people groups (Gen. 123) had "been attached to his body. ... God must not he put to
the test. Thus he looks for every means of safcty or self-defcnsc ... Thc promisc must
not be wasted through negligence." On the one hand, Luther expanded on Abram's
rcqucst to his wife: "... if I must surrender my life ..., then the Lord ... will surely be
able to revive me after I have died. But I must not for this reason overlook some way
of saving mysell'. Iherefore, my dear Sal-ah, ... say thal I am your brother. Thus 1 shall
rcmain alive through your favor. But as for you, ... you shall experience the help of
the Lord, so that nothing dishonorable may befall you Franz Delitzsch quoted
Augustine's defense of Abram ("indicavit sororem, non negavit uxorern; tacuit aliquid
veri, non dixit aliquid falsi;" Faustum 22:3) and stated that trust in God docs not
preclude clever action4 $ee Matt. 10: 16). Bemo Jacob would pennit a "white lie"
whcn in dangcr of death.
I It may seem anachron~st~c to spcah of thc (Gnspcl and thc frccdorn of Ihc Chntian in thc Yamc hrcath a? Abratn.
how eve^, aa Luthei liked to point out, all Old Testament ramts believed In the Protevangelium oitien. 3:15 that
God would raise up a Saviour to defeat Satan Since Jesus Cluist fulfilled this Promise, all lhose who earlier
believed in Him were in esaeuce "Chrislia~~a" (WA 4:193; 24:99-100; 40/1:378. 355; 54:S5; AE 15:335,
26:239-240; see It'A 42147; AE 1: 197; J. Wilch: "Luther As Interpreter: Christ and the Old Tesrament,"
Consozr~ls IX:3 [3-91& 4 [l 1-20]). Because their life was propelled by faith in this Gospel, they were guided
by the Holy Sp~rit In sanctification (scc Luthcr, W4 54247. 251; AE 15:385).
2 "Ts Chr~man F.thics Possihlc?" Lcithei.a~z Thrological Revww 11:2 (1990): 20-21.
3 Al: 1 294.
4 Franz Delitzsch, Die Geriesis, (Leipzig: Dorffling c% rianke. 1852) 262
5 The Firsi Book of the Bihle. Genesis, trans. and ed. E.I. 6r W. Jacob (New Yolk: KTAV, 1974) 90. This 1s
perhaps based on the same principle of rabbinic deduction that presclibed WUI-k Lo save a Me, men if, when done