Romans 4:10 : How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. Paul had reminded the Judaizer that Abraham was justified without the works of the law. Of course, they knew this, but may not have thought of the bearing it would have on their contention. But now they might reply that he was circumcised. To that possible objection, Paul replies that he was righteous even before he was circumcised. Abraham's case shows that a person who had not been commanded to be circumcised could be righteous with-out it, and every Jew knew that Gentiles had never been commanded to be circumcised. It was possible, therefore, for them to be righteous without it.