Theophylact of Ohrid, on Rom 4:12

“And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.”

“Through circumcision Abraham proves to be the father of "the circumcision," that is, of the circumcised. Yet he is the father not only of those who have circumcision, but also of those who walk in the footsteps of the faith that he had while in uncircumcision. So, the present passage must be read thus: he became the father of the circumcised not for those who resemble him in circumcision alone, but for those who walk in the footsteps of his faith, that is, who like him believe in the resurrection of dead bodies. For in old age and in deadness he believed that God could make his seed fruitful and give him a son. The complete thought is this: Abraham, being uncircumcised, believed and was justified, so that in this way he might become the father of believing uncircumcised ones. On the other hand, he received circumcision, a seal and sign of the faith which was in uncircumcision, so as to become the father of the circumcised who walk, of course, in the footsteps of his faith which he had while not yet circumcised. As long as this faith is absent, circumcision boasts in vain, imitating one who shows a purse to which only a seal has been affixed, but in which there is nothing. So then, the Jew is a purse sealed by circumcision, but not having the faith whose seal is circumcision.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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