6 He then trusted YHWH,
who, because of that trusted, deemed him to be righteous. (David L. Petersen, Genesis
[The Old Testament Library; Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press,
2025], 134)
The conclusion to this dialogue
(v. 6) has occasioned much reflection. Early Christian writers understood this
text to exemplify what is was to believe in God and, thereby, to be “justified
by faith” (Gal 3:6-9). As Ps 106:31 makes clear, the deity can deem someone to
be righteous because of an action. It is noteworthy that the issue of Abram’s
righteousness is at stake here; and it comes up again in Gen 18:19, which involves
“doing,” not simply “trusting.” Here, as elsewhere in the Abrahamic saga,
including Gen 18, the narrators seem to be raising explicit in theological issues.
(David L. Petersen, Genesis [The Old Testament Library; Louisville, Ky.:
Westminster John Knox Press, 2025], 137)
