Daniel's Literal Translation and Commentary
The Renewed Covenant by Daniel Gregg
"Genesis 15:6 And he is firm in YHWH He is regarding it to him as righteousness" (DLT: torahtimes.org).
Comment: האמן. This can also mean "stood fast" or "faithfully trusted" or "was steadfast" in YHWH. The question is what was counted to Abraham as righteousness. Let us take the extreme case that it was a single act of belief that the text is talking about. Then this single act of belief is counted as righteousness because it is righteousness. For it fulfilled the commandment to love God with all one's mind. However, the statement in Gen. 15:6 is a generalization. It referred that everything that Abraham did in his commitment to God. These steps of obedience God regarded as righteousness. The point of the statement is that God values Abraham's commitment.
Comment: The statement Psalm 106:31 concerning Phinehas, "And it was regarded to him for righteousness" regarding Phinehas' righteous action in slaying the sinners in the camp contextually eliminates any idea that we are talking about a legalistic forensic righteousness that is placed in one's heavenly account apart from what is imputed actually being a righteous deed or belief that was done by the person in question.
Comment: Clearly if anyone tries to appeal to this text as a foundation for forensic imputed righteousness, then it does not negate the Torah's righteousness (Deut. 6:25) which existed at the same time. That just a logical fly in the Calvinistic morass. Anyway, the only forensic imputed righteousness there is at all, it that which exists in conjunction with the actual righteousness of the believer that is conformed to the Torah.
Comment: חשב. also, "regarded", "valued", "considered", "esteemed"; we are not required to take this word as a ledger transaction. "He valued it to him as righteousness" would be perfectly proper. The reason that God took notice was to give assurance that it was possible to please God and be in his favor, not only to Abraham and Phinehas, but to all who would come after them with a commitment to God. The verb in in the imperfect tense, "he is regarding it": יחשבה; this implies that Abraham kept on faithfully trusting in YHWH, and YHWH kept on regarding the expression of his commitment as righteousness. In this sense, it even covers Abraham's obedience in the binding of Isaac. The Greek term λογιζομαι likewise means, "1b. consider...2 think (about), consider, ponder, let one's mind dwell on, ...3 think, believe, be of the opinion" (BDAG, 3rd edition, page 598). (DLC: torahtimes.org, Gen. 15:6). The Pauline use of λογιζομαι in the sense of a courtroom transaction or accounting of the penalty paid applies only when Messiah's payment of the penalty is concerned. Beyond that, for righteousness to be esteemed to the pardoned sinner, the pardoned sinner must continue in faithfulness and let the Spirit lead him into righteous obedience. This is not based on a legalism at the beginning. God only esteems as much moral righteousness as is really in the person. The concept of יהוה צדקנו, YHWH our Justice/Righteousness as pertaining to the perfection of moral righteousness is prophetic. Yes, the words חשב and λογιζομαι have the sense of legal accounting, but we must pay attention to the contexts where this sense is not meant and where it is meant.
Daniel's Literal Translation and Commentary: (http://www.torahtimes.org/translation/gen1506.html)
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