Abraham's Faith Counted as Righteousness — Romans 4

Paul proves justification by faith from the Old Testament itself, citing Gen 15:6: "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." He develops this throughout Rom 4:1-12, arguing that the reckoning came before circumcision, so Abraham is father of believing Jew and Gentile alike.

What does this "counting" mean? N.T. Wright — Justification; John Calvin — Institutes of the Christian Religion; Council of Trent — Decree on Justification. The contrast in 4:4-5 between wages and gift is what all affirm: righteousness is reckoned "to the one who does not work but believes."

This Abrahamic promise anchors the covenant of grace traced through Gen 17:7 and reappears in Gal 3:6. Augustine — On Nature and Grace, a point Council of Orange — Canons on Grace.