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16 Therefore, [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) 18 In 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)

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Footnotes

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

16 For 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. 18 In 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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:16 Or out of
  2. Romans 4:16 Lit seed
  3. Romans 4:16 Lit that which is
  4. Romans 4:16 Lit that which is
  5. Romans 4:18 Lit seed