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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.”

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Footnotes

  1. 4.17 Or trusted

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”[a] This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 4:17 Gen 17:5.
  2. 4:18 Gen 15:5.

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  2. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5