Romans 4:16-18

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)

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Footnotes

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

Romans 4:16-18

International Standard Version

¹⁶Therefore, the promise^[a] is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all of Abraham’s^[b] descendants—not only for those who were given the Law,^[c] but also for those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. ¹⁷As it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations.”^[d] Abraham^[e] acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don’t yet exist. ¹⁸Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,”^[f] just as he had been told:^[g] “This is how many descendants you will have.”^[h]