Romans 4:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

NIV: Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'

NASB: In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, 'SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.'

CSB: He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.

NLT: Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping — believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, 'That’s how many descendants you will have!'

KJV: Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

NKJV: who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

God credited Abraham with righteousness because of his faith. Paul has been using this as a strong example of God's plan for human salvation: one grounded in faith and belief, not in our good works or legalism. One of the things Abraham believed God about was that he and Sarah would have a son. This was not a sensible belief, looking from a purely humans perspective. Abraham and Sarah were outrageously far beyond the age when human beings are capable of having children. And yet, in the end, God honored that faith by providing them with a son, Isaac (Genesis 21:3).

Paul says here, though, that in hope, Abraham believed against all hope, that not only would he finally have a son with Sarah but that God would keep the promise to make him the father of many nations. Paul quotes that promise from Genesis 15:5. As Abraham looked up at the starry host of heaven, God told him, "So shall your offspring be."

Romans 4:13–25 continues to focus on the faith of Abraham. God made promises to Abraham and his descendants, promises which Abraham believed. Those promises can't be received by keeping the law, but only by faith. God promised Abraham a son with Sarah, and Abraham continued to believe that promise would be kept even as it became less and less likely in human terms. We, too, can be counted as righteous by faith in Jesus' death for our sins and God's resurrection of Him for our justification.

Romans 4 is all about the faith of Abraham. God declared Abraham righteous because of his faith, not because of his works. A declaration of righteousness was God's gift, not a payment. This righteousness is available to everyone, circumcised or not. God declared Abraham righteous many years before he was circumcised, making him the spiritual father of all who believe, whether circumcised or not, whether Jew or Gentile. God's promises to Abraham and his offspring can't be received by keeping the law, only by faith. Abraham's faith in God's promise of a son with Sarah did not waver even as he grew older. God will declare us righteous, as well, if by faith we believe in the God who delivered Jesus to die for our sins and raised Him back to life for our justification.

So far, this letter has established that every single person is guilty of sin and does not deserve God's forgiveness. Whether we know God's law explicitly, or not, we still fail to obey. Only faith in Christ can rescue us from the penalty we deserve for that sin. Romans 4 explores the example of Abraham, and God's amazing gift of declaring Abraham righteous solely on the basis of his faith. This declaration was given many years before Abraham was circumcised, causing Abraham to become the father of all who believe God by faith. Abraham's continued faith in God is a model for us. Romans will continue by exploring how Christ brings us peace with God.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.