¹⁶ This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,^(A) to guarantee it to all the descendants^(B)—not only to the one who is of the law^[a] but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations^[b](C)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed,the one who gives life to the dead^(D) and calls^(E) things into existence that do not exist.^{(F) 18} He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations^[c](G) according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.^[d](H)