⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

⁵ Not that we are qualified of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our qualification is from God,^(A)

¹⁷ as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed,^[a] who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.^{(A) 18} Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already^[b] as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.^{(B) 20} No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.^{(C) 22} Therefore “it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” ²³ Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone^{(D) 24} but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe^[c] in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,^{(E) 25} who was handed over for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.^(F)

⁷ But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.^(A)

¹⁹ He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.^(A)