| Geneva Study Bible {11} For the promise, that he should be the {h} heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the {i} law, but through the righteousness of faith. (11) A reason why the seed of Abraham is to be considered to be by faith, because Abraham himself through faith was made partaker of the promise by which he was made the father of all nations. (h) That all the nations of the world should be his children: or by the world may be understood the land of Canaan. (i) For works that he had done, or upon this condition, that he should fulfil the Law. People's New Testament 4:13 For the promise. The reference is to the substance of various promises to Abraham for himself and his seed. See Ge 12:7 13:14 15:18. Was not... through the law. Was not through law, the article being wanting in the Greek. No body of law had been given. The Mosaic law was given many years afterward. The law of circumcision had not been enacted. It was through the righteousness of faith, not of law, or works of law, that Abraham secured the promise. Wesley's Notes 4:13 The promise, that he should be the heir of the world - Is the same as that he should be the father of all nations, namely, of those in all nations who receive the blessing. The whole world was promised to him and them conjointly. Christ is the heir of the world, and of all things; and so are all Abraham's seed, all that believe in him with the faith of Abraham Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 13-15. For the promise, &c.-This is merely an enlargement of the foregoing reasoning, applying to the law what had just been said of circumcision. that he should be the heir of the world-or, that "all the families of the earth should be blessed in him." was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law-in virtue of obedience to the law. but through the righteousness of faith-in virtue of his simple faith in the divine promises. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 4:13-22 The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointed it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like precious faith with Abraham, whether Jews or Gentiles, in all ages. The justification and salvation of sinners, the taking to himself the Gentiles who had not been a people, were a gracious calling of things which are not, as though they were; and this giving a being to things that were not, proves the almighty power of God. The nature and power of Abraham's faith are shown. He believed God's testimony, and looked for the performance of his promise, firmly hoping when the case seemed hopeless. It is weakness of faith, that makes a man lie poring on the difficulties in the way of a promise. Abraham took it not for a point that would admit of argument or debate. Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God's promises. The strength of faith appeared in its victory over fears. God honours faith; and great faith honours God. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Faith is a grace that of all others gives glory to God. Faith clearly is the instrument by which we receive the righteousness of God, the redemption which is by Christ; and that which is the instrument whereby we take or receive it, cannot be the thing itself, nor can it be the gift thereby taken and received. Abraham's faith did not justify him by its own merit or value, but as giving him a part in Christ. | 
