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.”