Romans 4:17

KJV

¶ (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.

KJV (with Strong's)

(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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

(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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 4:17 serves as a profound theological anchor within Paul's discourse on justification by faith, centering on Abraham as the paradigmatic example. This verse powerfully describes the nature of the God in whom Abraham placed his trust, highlighting two extraordinary attributes: His sovereign power to bring life out of death and His creative authority to call into existence that which does not yet exist. It underscores that Abraham's faith was not in human possibility but in the limitless, life-giving, and world-creating power of God, who alone could fulfill the seemingly impossible promise of making him a "father of many nations."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 4 is a pivotal chapter in Paul's magnum opus, meticulously building his argument for justification by faith, not by works of the Law. Having established in [Romans 3](/romans/3 "Romans 3 - Righteousness Through Faith") that all, both Jew and Gentile, are under sin and can only be justified through faith in Christ, Paul turns to Abraham, the revered patriarch of Israel, to demonstrate that this principle predates the Mosaic Law. Verse 17 directly follows Paul's assertion in [Romans 4:16](/romans/4-16 "Romans 4:16 - The Promise by Grace Through Faith") that the promise is "of faith, that it might be by grace." It then quotes [Genesis 17:5](/genesis/17-5 "Genesis 17:5 - Abraham's New Name and Promise") to underscore the magnitude of God's promise to Abraham and the radical nature of the faith required to believe it, setting the stage for the subsequent verses that detail Abraham's unwavering trust in God's power despite overwhelming odds.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Abraham lived in a pre-Mosaic era, long before the giving of the Law at Sinai. His life and covenant with God thus provided a historical precedent for justification apart from legalistic observance, a crucial point for Paul to make to both Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome. The cultural understanding of lineage and inheritance was paramount in the ancient world, making the promise of "many nations" incredibly significant, yet physically impossible for an old, childless man and his barren wife. The concept of "quickening the dead" would have resonated with the Israelite understanding of God as the giver of life, who alone could open the womb of the barren or raise the dead, as seen in various Old Testament narratives. Furthermore, the idea of a God who speaks things into existence would evoke the foundational creation narrative in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), where God's word is inherently creative and effective.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans and the broader biblical narrative. It reinforces the theme of **God's Sovereignty and Omnipotence**, showcasing His absolute control over life, death, and creation. It deepens the theme of **Justification by Faith**, illustrating that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a radical trust in God's ability to act beyond human limitations, as seen in Abraham's example in [Romans 4:3](/romans/4-3 "Romans 4:3 - Abraham's Faith Accounted as Righteousness"). The verse also subtly introduces the theme of **Resurrection Power**, anticipating the ultimate demonstration of God's power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Paul will further develop as central to the believer's hope and justification in [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus"). Finally, it highlights **God's Creative Word**, emphasizing that His declarations are not mere words but powerful decrees that bring reality into being, echoing the divine fiat in the creation account.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **God (Greek, _theós'_):** Referring to G2316, this word denotes the supreme Divinity, emphasizing His unique and unparalleled nature as the one true God. In this context, it highlights that Abraham's faith was directed towards the ultimate source of power and authority, not a lesser deity or human construct. It underscores the divine nature of the one capable of performing the impossible.
* **quickeneth (Greek, _zōopoiéō'_):** Referring to G2227, this verb means "to vitalize" or "to make alive." It signifies God's power to impart life, whether physically (as in resurrection or overcoming barrenness) or spiritually. This term emphasizes God's unique prerogative over life and death, highlighting His ability to reverse the natural order and bring vitality where there is none.
* **calleth (Greek, _kaléō'_):** Referring to G2564, this verb means "to call," often with the implication of summoning or naming. Here, it refers to God's authoritative and creative utterance. It's not merely a naming but an act of divine declaration that brings something into existence, signifying God's power to speak reality into being from non-existence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,)"**: This parenthetical clause is a direct quote from [Genesis 17:5](/genesis/17-5 "Genesis 17:5 - God's Covenant with Abram, Renaming Him Abraham"), where God renames Abram to Abraham, signifying the expansion of His covenant promise. Paul uses this quote to establish the divine origin and immense scope of the promise to Abraham, which was given by God's decree, not based on Abraham's existing circumstances or human capability. The promise itself was a declaration of something that was not yet, but would be.
* **"before him whom he believed, [even] God,"**: This phrase clarifies the object of Abraham's faith: God Himself. The preposition "before" (κατέναντι, _katénanti_) suggests a direct, face-to-face relationship or a faith that stands in God's presence. It emphasizes that Abraham's belief was not in the promise in isolation, but in the character and power of the God who made the promise. This God is explicitly identified as the one who possesses extraordinary, supernatural abilities.
* **"who quickeneth the dead,"**: This clause describes the first of two divine attributes that make God uniquely capable of fulfilling His promise to Abraham. "Quickeneth the dead" refers to God's power to bring life where there is death or barrenness. In Abraham's context, this relates to his and Sarah's advanced age and Sarah's barrenness, which rendered them "as good as dead" concerning procreation ([Romans 4:19](/romans/4-19 "Romans 4:19 - Abraham's Faith in God's Promise")). This attribute also foreshadows God's ultimate power over physical death, culminating in the resurrection of Christ.
* **"and calleth those things which be not as though they were."**: This second attribute further elaborates on God's creative omnipotence. It speaks to God's ability to summon into existence that which has no present reality. This echoes the creation narrative where God speaks and things come into being ([Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Speaks Light Into Existence")). For Abraham, this meant believing that God could create a vast lineage from a seemingly impossible situation, calling forth a multitude of descendants (nations) from a barren couple as if they already existed. It highlights God's sovereign word as a creative force, bringing non-existence into existence.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several powerful **literary devices** in Romans 4:17 to underscore his theological points. The most prominent is **Allusion**, directly quoting [Genesis 17:5](/genesis/17-5 "Genesis 17:5 - Abraham's New Name and Promise") to ground his argument in the foundational narrative of Abraham. This serves to validate his interpretation of Abraham's faith within the Jewish tradition. Furthermore, the verse uses **Personification** and **Anthropomorphism** by attributing human-like actions to God, such as "quickeneth" and "calleth," yet these actions are described with divine power that transcends human capability. There is also a strong sense of **Paradox** or **Antithesis** in the phrases "quickeneth the dead" and "calleth those things which be not as though they were," highlighting the contrast between human limitation and divine omnipotence. This rhetorical structure emphasizes the miraculous nature of God's work and the extraordinary faith required to believe in it.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 4:17 serves as a theological cornerstone, revealing the boundless nature of God's power and the radical trust required of those who believe in Him. It establishes God as the ultimate source of life and creation, capable of transcending all natural and human limitations. This understanding of God's character is fundamental to the doctrine of justification by faith, as it explains *how* God can declare the ungodly righteous and fulfill seemingly impossible promises. Abraham's faith was not in his own ability or the world's circumstances, but in the God who defies impossibility, a God whose word is not just descriptive but creative. This verse thus lays the groundwork for understanding the power behind the resurrection of Christ and the spiritual new birth of believers, both of which are acts of God "quickening the dead" and "calling things that are not as though they were."

* [Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Speaks Light Into Existence")
* [Hebrews 11:19](/hebrews/11-19 "Hebrews 11:19 - Abraham's Faith in Resurrection")
* [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 4:17 invites believers to cultivate a faith that mirrors Abraham's, a faith not tethered to visible circumstances or human logic, but anchored in the infinite power and creative word of God. In a world that often demands tangible proof and immediate results, this verse calls us to trust in a God who operates beyond our comprehension, who can bring life into our "dead" situations—whether they be spiritual barrenness, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, or shattered dreams. It challenges us to surrender our limited perspectives and embrace the reality that God's declarations are not mere hopes but powerful, creative decrees that bring forth what He wills. What "dead" areas in your life or circumstances are you struggling to believe God can quicken? What "things which be not" is God calling into existence for you, and are you aligning your faith with His creative word?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you need to believe God can "quicken the dead" or "call things which be not as though they were"?**
* **How does understanding God's creative and life-giving power impact your prayers and expectations?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate a faith that trusts God beyond what is humanly possible, like Abraham's?**

### FAQ
**What does "quickeneth the dead" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Romans 4:17, "quickeneth the dead" primarily refers to God's power to bring life into situations that are biologically or naturally impossible, specifically Abraham and Sarah's advanced age and Sarah's barrenness, which rendered them "as good as dead" for procreation ([Romans 4:19](/romans/4-19 "Romans 4:19 - Abraham's Faith in God's Promise")). It signifies God's ability to overcome death-like conditions and impart life. Theologically, it also foreshadows God's ultimate power over physical death, culminating in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the future resurrection of believers.

**How does "calleth those things which be not as though they were" relate to God's power?**

Answer: This phrase highlights God's unique creative power, often referred to as *creatio ex nihilo* (creation out of nothing). It means that God has the sovereign authority and power to speak something into existence that previously had no reality. Just as He spoke the universe into being in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), He declared Abraham the "father of many nations" when he had no children, and then brought that reality into being. It emphasizes that God's word is not merely descriptive but performative and creative; His declarations are inherently effective and bring about what they proclaim.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:17, though speaking of Abraham, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The God "who quickeneth the dead" is most powerfully revealed in the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, demonstrating His absolute triumph over sin and death ([Romans 4:25](/romans/4-25 "Romans 4:25 - Jesus' Resurrection for Our Justification")). Christ Himself is the "resurrection and the life" who gives spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead in sin ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life"); [Ephesians 2:1-5](/ephesians/2-1-5 "Ephesians 2:1-5 - Made Alive in Christ")). Furthermore, the God "who calleth those things which be not as though they were" is seen in Christ's redemptive work, where He calls a new creation into being from those who were "not" His people, transforming sinners into saints and making them part of His spiritual family, the church ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ"); [1 Peter 2:9-10](/1_peter/2-9-10 "1 Peter 2:9-10 - A Chosen Race, a Holy Nation")). Abraham's faith in God's power to create and give life foreshadows the believer's faith in Christ, through whom God's promises are ultimately fulfilled and new life is granted.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.