Romans 4 · a question people ask
"who is the father of us all" (4:16). Whose father does the chapter say Abraham is?
Here is what each verse says. The chapter begins with "Abraham, our forefather" (4:1). He received the sign of circumcision "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" (4:11). "He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision." (4:12) (tap steps). The promise is to be sure "to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all" (4:16), and "As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.”" (4:17). At its end the chapter speaks of "our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead" (4:24). The chapter says no more than these verses about whom its us and our mean. These notes identify them with no people, group or person today, and apply nothing in these verses to anyone.
The verses
“What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?”
“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. He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.”
“For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.”
“but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,”