John Calvin Commentary Romans 4:1

"What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?" — Romans 4:1 (ASV)

What then, etc. This is a confirmation by example. It is a very strong one, since all things are alike with regard to the subject and the person.

For he was the father of the faithful, to whom we all ought to be conformed; and there is also only one way, not many ways, by which righteousness may be obtained by all.

In many other things, one example would not be sufficient to make a common rule. But since in the person of Abraham a mirror and pattern of righteousness was exhibited, which belongs in common to the whole Church, Paul rightly applies what has been written of him alone to the whole body of the Church.

At the same time, he challenges the Jews, who had nothing more plausible to glory in than that they were the children of Abraham; and they could not have dared to claim for themselves more holiness than what they ascribed to the holy patriarch.

Since it is then evident that he was justified freely, his posterity, who claimed a righteousness of their own by the law, ought to have been silenced even by shame.

According to the flesh, etc. Between this clause and the word father, the verb ἑυρηκέναι is placed in Paul’s text, in this order: “What shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?” For this reason, some interpreters think that the question is: “What has Abraham obtained according to the flesh?” If this interpretation is accepted, the words according to the flesh mean naturally or from himself.

It is, however, probable that these words are to be connected with the word father. Besides, as we are accustomed to be more moved by domestic examples, the dignity of their race, in which the Jews took too much pride, is here again expressly mentioned. But some regard this as spoken in contempt, as they are elsewhere called the carnal children of Abraham, not being his children spiritually or in the true sense.

But I think that it was expressed as something peculiar to the Jews; for it was a greater honor to be the children of Abraham by nature and descent than by mere adoption, provided there was also faith. He then concedes to the Jews a closer bond of union, but only for this purpose: that he might more deeply impress upon them that they ought not to depart from the example of their father.