Romans 4:16-22

New American Standard Bible

¹⁶For this reason it is ^[a]by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with ^(A)grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^(B)all the ^[b]descendants, not only to ^[c]those who are of the Law, but also to ^[d]^(C)those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^(D)the father of us all, ¹⁷(as it is written: “I have made you ^(E)a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, ^(F)who gives life to the dead and ^(G)calls into being ^(H)things that do not exist. ¹⁸In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become ^(I)a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “^(J)So shall your ^[e]descendants be.” ¹⁹Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now ^(K)as good as dead since ^(L)he was about a hundred years old, and ^(M)the deadness of Sarah’s womb; ²⁰yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, ^(N)giving glory to God, ²¹and ^(O)being fully assured that ^(P)what God had promised, He was able also to perform. ²²Therefore ^(Q)it was also credited to him as righteousness.

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Footnotes

Romans 4:16 Or out of
Romans 4:16 Lit seed
Romans 4:16 Lit that which is
Romans 4:16 Lit that which is
Romans 4:18 Lit seed

Romans 4:16-22

Amplified Bible

¹⁶Therefore, [inheriting] the promise depends entirely on faith [that is, confident trust in the unseen God], in order that it may be given as an act of grace [His unmerited favor and mercy], so that the promise will be [legally] guaranteed to all the descendants [of Abraham]—not only for those [Jewish believers] who keep the Law, but also for those [Gentile believers] who share the faith of Abraham, who is the [spiritual] father of us all— ¹⁷(as it is written [in Scripture], “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God ^[a]who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.^(A) ¹⁸In hope against hope Abraham believed that he would become a father of many nations, as he had been promised [by God]: “So [numberless] shall your descendants be.”^(B) ¹⁹Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now as good as dead [for producing children] since he was about a hundred years old, and [he considered] the deadness of Sarah’s womb.^(C) ²⁰But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, ²¹being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised. ²²Therefore his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).^(D)

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Footnotes

Romans 4:17 A reference to both the birth of Isaac, and the resurrection of Christ.

Romans 4:16-22

New International Version

¹⁶Therefore, 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) ¹⁷As 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)

¹⁸Against 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) ¹⁹Without 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) ²⁰Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(M) in his faith and gave glory to God,^(N) ²¹being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^(O) ²²This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^(P)