4:12a–c

the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith: The phrase the circumcised implies the Jews. Abraham was the ancestor of the Jews. (The word father is used to mean “ancestor” here.)

Paul limited which Jews should consider Abraham as their father regarding faith. The Jews must believe in God as Abraham did in order to truly call Abraham their father. They must not rely on circumcision to do that. Here are other ways to translate these words:

the ancestor of those of the circumcision who not only have their circumcision but who also follow our ancestor Abraham along the path of faith… (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
the father of those who are circumcised, that is, of those who, in addition to being circumcised, also live the same life of faith… (Good News Translation)
-or-
Also Abraham became as a father to all those who have been marked with the sign of circumcision. But it wasn’t just because they were marked with the sign that he became like a father to them, rather it was because they followed the faith Abraham had…

4:12a

And he is also: In this verse Paul told his readers of another purpose (or result) of God giving Abraham the sign of circumcision (4:11a). In some languages it is more clear to repeat some or all of that information here. For example:

Another ⌊purpose was⌋ to make
-or-

⌊He⌋ also ⌊received the sign of circumcision⌋ in order that he might make

he is also: If you translated the phrase “The purpose was to” (4:11d) as purpose, you should translate the phrase he is also as purpose as well. If you translated it as result, translate the phrase he is also as result as well. For example:

⌊so⌋ he made

father: Translate this word as you did in 4:11d.

4:12b

who not only are circumcised: This clause indicates that there is something besides circumcision that is required for Abraham to be truly their father. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

who are not merely circumcised (English Standard Version)
-or-
who, in addition to being circumcised, also… (Good News Translation)

This clause refers to the condition of being circumcised. Some languages must use a verb for circumcision in an active clause here. For example:

whom not only has ⌊someone⌋ circumcised them

4:12c

but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith: The phrase walk in the footsteps is a figurative way of saying “to act in the same way as someone.” For the Jews to truly be true descendants of Abraham, they needed to have the same faith as Abraham. Here are some ways to translate this clause:

• If the figure of speech has the correct meaning in your language, you may want to translate it that way. For example:

also are following in the footsteps of his faith (God’s Word)

• Use a figure of speech that has the correct meaning in your language. For example:

who also follow our ancestor Abraham along the path of faith (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Translate the meaning. For example:

who…also live the same life of faith (Good News Translation)
-or-
if they have the same kind of faith (New Living Translation (2004))

4:12d

he was circumcised: This clause is passive. Translate it as you translated the similar phrase in 4:10b.

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