Note 10 at Gal. 3:6: Paul's statements about the grace of God were, of course, offense to the legalistic Jews. They, no doubt, thought he was way off course and completely outside of the truths of scripture. Now Paul cites scripture to show that it is those who trust in themselves instead of a savior, who are unscriptural.

Paul refers to Genesis 15:6 (see Parallel Scripture for this verse). When Abraham believed God's promise, that was the time he had righteousness imputed to him. This is the same example that Paul used in Romans 4 where he illustrated righteousness by grace with the example of Abraham. In Romans 4, Paul says righteousness was reckoned to Abraham about 14 years (see note 2 at Rom. 4:10, p. 763) before he received the sign of circumcision (Rom. 4:9-11). Therefore, circumcision, or any other outward act, cannot be a prerequisite to right standing with God.

Abraham was the greatest of all the patriarchs. All the promises began with him. He was the foundation of the Hebrew race. If Abraham received righteousness by faith, how could any Jew justify righteousness by any other means? Paul continues through the end of chapter 4 to use the example of Abraham to illustrate this truth of justification by faith.