Romans 4:16-18
New American Standard Bible
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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- 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 4:16-18
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be based on grace, so that the promise might be firm[a] to all the seed— not to the seed of the Law only[b], but also to the seed of the faith of Abraham,
Abraham Is The Father of All Who Believe
... who is the father of us all— 17 just as it has been written [in Gen 17:5] that “I have made you a father of many nations”— before God[c] Whom he believed, the One giving-life-to the dead and calling the things not being as[d] being,
He Believed God’s Promise, Contrary To All His Human Circumstances
18 ... who believed contrary-to[e] hope, upon hope, so that he might become[f] the father of many nations in accordance with the thing having been spoken [in Gen 15:5]: “So shall your seed be”.
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- Romans 4:16 Or, secure, certain.
- Romans 4:16 That is, to people like Paul; believing Jews.
- Romans 4:17 Abraham is the spiritual father of us all before God.
- Romans 4:17 Or, as-if. That is, calling the things not being [into] being, in an act of creation, as seen in the birth of Isaac. Or, calling/naming the things not [yet] being as-if being, as if they already existed, as when He calls Abraham the father of many nations when he had no child.
- Romans 4:18 Or, against, beyond. That is, contrary to all human hope could offer, upon the hope God promised.
- Romans 4:18 That is, from his viewpoint. Or, so that he became (from our viewpoint).
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
