¹⁶ For it is clear that he did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham.

²⁹ And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,^[a] heirs according to the promise.^(A)

¹⁶ Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring;^[a] it does not say, “And to offsprings,”^[b] as of many, but it says, “And to your offspring,”^[c] that is, to one person, who is Christ.^(A)

¹⁶ For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us,^{(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.^{(B) 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.^{(C) 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.^{(D) 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^{(E) 24} but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe^[c] in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,^{(F) 25} who was handed over for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.^(G)

¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.^(A)

¹⁶ Humans, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute among them.^(A)

²⁵ Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law your circumcision has become uncircumcision.^(A)

¹⁸ and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”^(A)

²⁰ He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.^(A)

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah