Eschatology in Genesis 15:6

The word חשׁב in Gen 15:6 has traditionally been read in terms of God “considering” or “reckoning” Abram’s belief as righteousness. This understanding, however, is not consistent with current Pauline studies. The present article reads Gen 15:6 eschatologically. It will be shown that the biblical text opens itself up to such interpretation on semantic and contextual grounds: חשׁב can be read as God “planning” righteousness for Abram. The context of the chapter and Genesis as a whole supports the eschatological reading. That is also the case with the reception history of the verse including Paul’s usage of it in Romans and Galatians. The reading of Gen 15:6 offered in the present article has theological implications for our understanding of justification and our reading of Pauline texts.