Romans 4:17 - As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17:5 This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.
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What does "Romans 4:17" mean?
Romans 4:17 is a powerful and layered verse that connects Abraham's faith to the power and nature of God. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17:5": This refers to God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:5, where God changes Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many." At the time of the promise, Abraham was old, childless with his wife Sarah, and it seemed biologically impossible for him to have descendants, let alone become the father of many nations. This quote is used to highlight the seemingly impossible nature of the promise.
"This is in the presence of him whom he believed:": This clarifies that Abraham's faith was directed toward the God who made this seemingly impossible promise. It emphasizes that Abraham's faith wasn't just a vague hope, but a trust in a specific promise from a specific God.
"God, who gives life to the dead,": This is a crucial description of God's power. It points to God's ability to bring life where there is none, highlighting the resurrection and the overall creative power of God. Abraham and Sarah were as good as dead concerning conceiving a child. By faith, Abraham believed God could bring life out of that 'deadness'.
"and calls the things that are not, as though they were.": This is the key to understanding the verse. It describes God's creative power to bring into existence things that do not yet exist. It suggests that God can speak things into being, creating reality with his word. This phrase is often interpreted to mean that God sees potential and future reality as already present. He speaks of future events as if they have already occurred.
In Summary:
The verse is arguing that Abraham's faith was remarkable because it was directed towards a God who is capable of performing the impossible. Abraham believed in a God who can:
1. Bring life to the dead (a hint at resurrection and also Sarah's barrenness).
2. Create something from nothing - call into existence something that doesn't yet exist.
Therefore, Abraham's faith was not foolish or naive. It was grounded in the nature of the God he believed in. This demonstrates how believers must trust in the God who is capable of bringing things into being that are not present and giving life to the dead.
Significance in Romans 4:
This verse is central to Paul's argument in Romans 4 about justification by faith, not by works. Paul uses Abraham as the prime example of someone who was declared righteous (justified) by God through faith, not by obeying the law.
The verse emphasizes that Abraham's faith was not based on what he could see or accomplish himself, but on the power and promise of God. This aligns with Paul's point that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, not earned through works. Like Abraham, believers are justified by putting their faith in God's promise and the God of resurrection.
Romans 4:17 - As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17:5 This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.
What does "Romans 4:17" mean?
Romans 4:17 is a powerful and layered verse that connects Abraham's faith to the power and nature of God. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” Genesis 17:5": This refers to God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:5, where God changes Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many." At the time of the promise, Abraham was old, childless with his wife Sarah, and it seemed biologically impossible for him to have descendants, let alone become the father of many nations. This quote is used to highlight the seemingly impossible nature of the promise.
"This is in the presence of him whom he believed:": This clarifies that Abraham's faith was directed toward the God who made this seemingly impossible promise. It emphasizes that Abraham's faith wasn't just a vague hope, but a trust in a specific promise from a specific God.
"God, who gives life to the dead,": This is a crucial description of God's power. It points to God's ability to bring life where there is none, highlighting the resurrection and the overall creative power of God. Abraham and Sarah were as good as dead concerning conceiving a child. By faith, Abraham believed God could bring life out of that 'deadness'.
"and calls the things that are not, as though they were.": This is the key to understanding the verse. It describes God's creative power to bring into existence things that do not yet exist. It suggests that God can speak things into being, creating reality with his word. This phrase is often interpreted to mean that God sees potential and future reality as already present. He speaks of future events as if they have already occurred.
In Summary:
The verse is arguing that Abraham's faith was remarkable because it was directed towards a God who is capable of performing the impossible. Abraham believed in a God who can:
1. Bring life to the dead (a hint at resurrection and also Sarah's barrenness).
2. Create something from nothing - call into existence something that doesn't yet exist.
Therefore, Abraham's faith was not foolish or naive. It was grounded in the nature of the God he believed in. This demonstrates how believers must trust in the God who is capable of bringing things into being that are not present and giving life to the dead.
Significance in Romans 4:
This verse is central to Paul's argument in Romans 4 about justification by faith, not by works. Paul uses Abraham as the prime example of someone who was declared righteous (justified) by God through faith, not by obeying the law.
The verse emphasizes that Abraham's faith was not based on what he could see or accomplish himself, but on the power and promise of God. This aligns with Paul's point that salvation is a gift of grace received through faith, not earned through works. Like Abraham, believers are justified by putting their faith in God's promise and the God of resurrection.