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OET (OET-LV) and father of_circumcision to_the ones not of circumcision only, but also to_the ones aligning in_the steps which in uncircumcision of_faith, of_the father of_us Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām).
OET (OET-RV) So our ancestor Abraham is the ancestor of us as a circumcised people, not just because we’re circumcised, but also as we follow his steps of faith while uncircumcised.
God called Abraham righteous because he believed what God told him (Genesis 15:1–6). In this section, Paul used that example to show that all people must believe in God for him to call them righteous. He did that for Abraham before Abraham was circumcised. So that shows that God makes people right with himself because they believe in him and not because they are circumcised.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
The Example of Abraham (GNT)
God called Abraham righteous because he believed
Abraham is/as an example of how to become righteous before God
The lesson/model of God calling Abraham righteous because he believed God
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… (NJB)
the father of those who are circumcised, that is, of those who, in addition to being circumcised, also live the same life of faith… (GNT)
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…Otomi Back Translation on TW.
And he is also the father of the circumcised
and in order that he would become like the father of all the people who are circumcised,
Also, God gave to him the sign of circumcision, so Abraham became like the ancestor of all those who are circumcised,
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
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.
who not only are circumcised,
who are not only circumcised,
but not only has someone circumcised them,
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 (ESV)
who, in addition to being circumcised, also… (GNT)
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
but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had
but they also walk the same path of faith that our(incl) father/ancestor Abraham did,
but they also believe in God like our ancestor Abraham did
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 (GW)
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 (NJB)
Translate the meaning. For example:
who…also live the same life of faith (GNT)
if they have the same kind of faith (NLT)
before he was circumcised.
even before he was circumcised.
before someone circumcised him.
he was circumcised: This clause is passive. Translate it as you translated the similar phrase in 4:10b.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
καὶ πατέρα περιτομῆς
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλά καί τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρός ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ)
Here, and indicates that what follows is another purpose for God commanding Abraham to be circumcised after he trusted in God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could repeat some of the information from the previous sentence and start a new sentence. Alternate translation: [and also so that he would be the father of circumcision]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως, τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ
father ˱of˲_circumcision ˱to˲_the_‹ones› not of circumcision only (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλά καί τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρός ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ)
Paul uses father of circumcision to indicate that Abraham is both the physical ancestor and spiritual ancestor of Jewish people who believe in Jesus. They are both physically circumcised and have the “circumcision of the heart,” which Paul refers to in [2:29](../02/29.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [to those Jews who are not only circumcised, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham in his uncircumcision]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως, τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ
˱to˲_the_‹ones› not of circumcision only ˱to˲_the_‹ones› ˱in˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλά καί τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρός ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ)
Paul assumes that his readers will know that these two clauses refer to those Jews who are not only circumcised in their bodies, but also have the same faith in God that Abraham had before he was circumcised. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [to those Jews who are not only circumcised, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham in uncircumcision]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
καὶ τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς & πίστεως, τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλά καί τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρός ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ)
Here, follow in the steps is an idiom that means to follow someone’s example. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent idiom or use plain language. Alternate translation: [who follow the example of the faith of our father Abraham]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τῆς & πίστεως, τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ
¬which & ˱of˲_faith ˱of˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλά καί τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρός ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ)
Paul is using the possessive form to describe the faith that our father Abraham had. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [of our father Abraham’s faith]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive
τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ
˱of˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί πατέρα περιτομῆς τοῖς οὐκ ἐκ περιτομῆς μόνον ἀλλά καί τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ πίστεως τοῦ πατρός ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ)
Here, our refers to Paul and his fellow believing Jews, as in [3:9](../03/09.md). Your language may require you to mark these forms. Alternate translation: [of our Jewish father Abraham]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ
in uncircumcision
Here, in uncircumcision has the same meaning as “through circumcision” stated in the previous verse. See how you translated the phrase there.
OET (OET-LV) and father of_circumcision to_the ones not of circumcision only, but also to_the ones aligning in_the steps which in uncircumcision of_faith, of_the father of_us Abraʼam/(ʼAⱱrāhām).
OET (OET-RV) So our ancestor Abraham is the ancestor of us as a circumcised people, not just because we’re circumcised, but also as we follow his steps of faith while uncircumcised.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.