¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(As {G2531} it is written {G1125},{G3754} I have made {G5087} thee {G4571} a father {G3962} of many {G4183} nations {G1484},) before {G2713} him whom {G3739} he believed {G4100}, even God {G2316}, who quickeneth {G2227} the dead {G3498}, and {G2532} calleth {G2564} those things which be {G5607} not {G3361} as though {G5613} they were {G5607}.
This accords with the Tanakh, where it says, “I have appointed you to be a father to many nations.” Avraham is our father in God’s sight because he trusted God as the one who gives life to the dead and calls nonexistent things into existence.
As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
(as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.
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1 Corinthians 1:28
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: -
Genesis 17:4
¶ As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. -
Genesis 17:5
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. -
John 5:21
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. -
Romans 8:29
¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. -
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. -
John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.
Romans 4:17 is a pivotal verse in Paul's argument for justification by faith, using Abraham as the prime example. It highlights the nature of the God whom Abraham believed and whose power makes the promise of being a "father of many nations" a reality, despite the physical impossibility at the time.
Context
In Romans chapter 4, Paul elaborates on how Abraham was counted righteous not by circumcision or adherence to the Law (which didn't exist yet), but by his faith. Verse 17 quotes Genesis to support the vastness of God's promise to Abraham and the extraordinary nature of the faith required to believe it. The context emphasizes that salvation has always been based on God's grace received through faith, predating the Mosaic Law.
Meaning and Themes
Linguistic Insight
The Greek phrase translated "quickeneth the dead" is zoopoieo tous nekrous, meaning "makes the dead alive" or "gives life to the dead." This highlights God's unique power to impart life, whether physically or spiritually. The phrase "calleth those things which be not as though they were" (kalountos ta mē onta hōs onta) beautifully captures the divine prerogative to speak into non-existence and bring forth reality. It's an assertion of God's sovereign, creative authority exercised through His word.
Application
Romans 4:17 encourages believers today to have a faith like Abraham's, trusting in a God whose power is not limited by apparent impossibility. It reminds us that God can bring life into dead situations, fulfill promises that seem humanly impossible, and speak into our circumstances to create new realities. It calls us to believe in the God who rewards those who earnestly seek Him and trust His powerful, creative word.