Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1 Corinthians 10:6,11 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted…
were written not only for Abraham,
This indicates that the account of Abraham's faith was recorded for a purpose beyond his own life. The historical context shows that the Jewish people revered Abraham as the patriarch of their faith, and his example was meant to instruct future generations. This phrase connects to the broader biblical narrative that God's promises and actions are not limited to one individual or time but have implications for all believers. It also aligns with the New Testament teaching that the Old Testament scriptures were written for our instruction (Romans 15:4), showing that the principles of faith and righteousness apply universally.
• Paul signals a fresh application of the truths he has just laid out, linking Abraham’s experience of faith straight into the present moment (cf. Romans 4:22; Hebrews 11:1).
• “Now” bridges past history with the believer’s current standing, underscoring that God’s method of salvation has not shifted with time (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).
• Scripture emphasizes specific, Spirit-chosen wording; every phrase is purposeful and trustworthy (2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 24:35).
• By highlighting “the words,” Paul reminds us that faith grows when we pay close attention to the exact testimony God has preserved for us (Psalm 19:7-8).
• Quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul reaffirms that righteousness is imputed, placed on the believer’s account by God Himself, not earned (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6).
• Abraham’s simple trust in God’s promise—before circumcision, before the Law—shows salvation rests on faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• This crediting is an irreversible legal declaration from the Judge of all the earth (John 5:24).
• God had Moses record Abraham’s story so later generations could see the unchanging gospel in action (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4).
• The written record stands as an objective witness, safeguarding the message from distortion and reminding us that our faith has historical roots (Luke 1:1-4).
• Paul widens the lens: the blessing of credited righteousness is never meant for one patriarch alone (John 3:16).
• “Not only” demolishes any notion that heritage, ritual, or ethnicity limits God’s saving grace (Acts 2:39; Galatians 3:28-29).
• If God justified Abraham by faith, He is ready to justify anyone who believes under the same terms (Romans 10:11-13).
• Abraham remains the prototype believer—father of all who trust God (Genesis 17:4-5; Isaiah 51:2).
• His life illustrates how personal faith intersects with God’s grand redemptive plan, showing that individual decisions of faith can have global impact (Genesis 12:3).
• Yet even while honoring Abraham, Paul directs every reader to see that God intends the same righteousness-by-faith to cover them (Romans 4:24).
Romans 4:23 assures us that the record of Abraham’s faith was never merely a historical footnote. God had it penned so every later reader would know that righteousness is still credited on exactly the same basis—simple, trusting faith in His promise fulfilled in Christ. What God did for Abraham He stands ready to do for you today, right now, without alteration or delay.
(23-25) Application of the foregoing. The history of Abraham is a type of the dispensation of grace; his faith, the imputation of righteousness to him, and his reward, each severally a type of the same things in the Christian. Even in details the resemblance holds. Abraham put faith in a God "who quickeneth the dead," and in like manner the Christian must put faith in God as the Author of a scheme of salvation attested by the resurrection of Christ. The death of Christ was the ground of that scheme, the resurrection of Christ its proof, without which it would not have been brought home to man.