¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.^(A)

²⁹ If you belong to Christ,^(A) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(B) and heirs^(C) according to the promise.^(D)

¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(A) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[a](B) meaning one person, who is Christ.

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace^(A) and may be guaranteed^(B) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.^{(C) 17} As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a](D) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(E) to the dead and calls^(F) into being things that were not.^(G)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(H) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[b](I) 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(J)—since he was about a hundred years old^(K)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(L) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(M) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(N) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(O) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^{(P) 23} The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us,^(Q) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him^(R) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(S) 25} He was delivered over to death for our sins^(T) and was raised to life for our justification.^(U)

¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^(A)