Colin Kruse Analysis

Colin Kruse makes an interesting point on this matter. He says, “For his gospel to have credibility with those with a background in the synagogue, Paul had to show that Abraham was in fact justified by faith, not works.” The term “boast” Paul chose signifies the “act of taking pride in something or that which constitutes a source of pride.” Paul’s case in point is that no human act, no matter how pious could render man a boasting position before God. In the following verses, Paul tackles this subject even further by addressing circumcision, the very act that in the Jewish tradition yielded their favorable position with God.
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In this verse, Paul once again begins with a question, but this time he turns his audience to the Scripture. Now he is confronting them with the words that they claim to live by. According to Moo, Paul was following Jewish custom by validating his case from a Scripture from the Pentateuch. The question, “What does the Scripture say?” comes with a provocation towards the Jewish believers to entice them towards truth. The question seems to be Paul’s way of challenging them to rethink their position in regards to Abraham’s pathway to justification. His challenge refutes that works that lead to …show more content…
Smith makes three important points of Paul’s interpretation of Genesis 15:6. First, “Abraham is forcefully taken away from the Jew as an exemplar for Torah obedience and is made into an exemplar of faith. Second, the result is that Abraham becomes the Father of All who believe and third, Paul uses Abraham to establish the authenticity of his revelation of grace.” Paul’s intentional inclusion of Abraham in this theological teaching of “works” versus “faith” pulled Abraham out of the former (works) mindset of the Jews in to the latter (faith) revelation that Paul was conveying to the Roman