TRV
Translation
King James Version
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Complete Jewish Bible
He did not by lack of trust decide against God’s promises. On the contrary, by trust he was given power as he gave glory to God,
Berean Standard Bible
Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
American Standard Version
yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,
World English Bible Messianic
Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,
Geneva Bible (1599)
Neither did he doubt of the promise of God through vnbeliefe, but was strengthened in the faith, and gaue glorie to God,
Young's Literal Translation
and at the promise of God did not stagger in unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, having given glory to God,
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In the KJVVerse 28,043 of 31,102
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Commentary on Romans 4 verses 17–22
17 ¶ (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.
18 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.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Having observed when Abraham was justified by faith, and why, for the honour of Abraham and for example to us who call him father, the apostle here describes and commends the faith of Abraham, where observe,
I. Whom he believed: God who quickeneth. It is God himself that faith fastens upon: other foundation can no man lay. Now observe what in God Abraham's faith had an eye t - o that, certainly, which would be most likely to confirm his faith concerning the things promised: - 1. God who quickeneth the dead. It was promised that he should be the father of many nations, when he and his wife were now as good as dead (Heb 11:11, Heb 11:12), and therefore he looks upon God as a God that could breathe life into dry bones. He that quickeneth the dead can do any thing, can give a child to Abraham when he is old, can bring the Gentiles, who are dead in trespasses and sins, to a divine and spiritual life, Eph 2:1. Compare Eph 1:19, Eph 1:20. 2. Who calleth things which are not as though they were; that is, creates all things by the word of his power, as in the beginning, Gen 1:3; Co2 4:6. The justification and salvation of sinners, the espousing of the Gentiles that had not been a people, were a gracious calling of things which are not as though they were, giving being to things that were not. This expresses the sovereignty of God and his absolute power and dominion, a mighty stay to faith when all other props sink and totter. It is the holy wisdom and policy of faith to fasten particularly on that in God which is accommodated to the difficulties wherewith it is to wrestle, and will most effectually answer the objections. It is faith indeed to build upon the all-sufficiency of God for the accomplishment of that which is impossible to anything but that all-sufficiency. Thus Abraham became the father of many nations before him whom he believed, that is, in the eye and account of God; or like him whom he believed; as God was a common Father, so was Abraham. It is by faith in God that we become accepted of him, and conformable to him.
II. How he believed. He here greatly magnifies the strength of Abraham's faith, in several expressions. 1. Against hope, he believed in hope, Rom 4:18. There was a hope against him, a natural hope. All the arguments of sense, and reason, and experience, which in such cases usually beget and support hope, were against him; no second causes smiled upon him, nor in the least favoured his hope. But, against all those inducements to the contrary, he believed; for he had a hope for him: He believed in hope, which arose, as his faith did, from the consideration of God's all-sufficiency. That he might become the father of many nations. Therefore God, by his almighty grace, enabled him thus to believe against hope, that he might pass for a pattern of great and strong faith to all generations. It was fit that he who was to be the father of the faithful should have something more than ordinary in his faith - that in him faith should be set in its highest elevation, and so the endeavours of all succeeding believers be directed, raised, and quickened. Or this is mentioned as the matter of the promise that he believed; and he refers to Gen 15:5, So shall thy seed be, as the stars of heaven, so innumerable, so illustrious. This was that which he believed, when it was counted to him for righteousness, Rom 4:6. And it is observable that this particular instance of his faith was against hope, against the surmises and suggestions of his unbelief. He had just before been concluding hardly that he should go childless, that one born in his house was his heir (Rom 4:2, Rom 4:3); and this unbelief was a foil to his faith, and bespeaks it a believing against hope. 2. Being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body, Rom 4:19. Observe, His own body was now dead - become utterly unlikely to beget a child, though the new life and vigour that God gave him continued after Sarah was dead, witness his children by Keturah. When God intends some special blessing, some child of promise, for his people, he commonly puts a sentence of death upon the blessing itself, and upon all the ways that lead to it. Joseph must be enslaved and imprisoned before he be advanced. But Abraham did not consider this, su katenoēse - he did not dwell in his thoughts upon it. He said indeed, Shall a child be born to him that is a hundred years old? Gen 17:17. But that was the language of his admiration and his desire to be further satisfied, not of his doubting and distrust; his faith passed by that consideration, and thought of nothing but the faithfulness of the promise, with the contemplation whereof he was swallowed up, and this kept up his faith. Being not weak in faith, he considered not. It is mere weakness of faith that makes a man lie poring upon the difficulties and seeming impossibilities that lie in the way of a promise. Though it may seem to be the wisdom and policy of carnal reason, yet it is the weakness of faith, to look into the bottom of all the difficulties that arise against the promise. 3. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief (Rom 4:20), and he therefore staggered not because he considered not the frowns and discouragements of second causes; su diekrithē - he disputed not; he did not hold any self-consultation about it, did not take time to consider whether he should close with it or no, did not hesitate nor stumble at it, but by a resolute and peremptory act of his soul, with a holy boldness, ventured all upon the promise. He took it not for a point that would admit of argument or debate, but presently determined it as a ruled case, did not at all hang in suspense about it: he staggered not through unbelief. Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God's promises. It is not the promise that fails, but our faith that fails when we stagger. 4. He was strong in faith, giving glory to God, enedunamōthē - he was strengthened in faith, his faith got ground by exercise - crescit eundo. Though weak faith shall not be rejected, the bruised reed not broken, the smoking flax not quenched, yet strong faith shall be commended and honoured. The strength of his faith appeared in the victory it won over his fears. And hereby he gave glory to God; for, as unbelief dishonours God by making him a liar (Jo1 5:10), so faith honours God by setting to its seal that he is true, Joh 3:33. Abraham's faith gave God the glory of his wisdom, power, holiness, goodness, and especially of his faithfulness, resting upon the word that he had spoken. Among men we say, "He that trusts another, gives him credit, and honours him by taking his word;" thus Abraham gave glory to God by trusting him. We never hear our Lord Jesus commending any thing so much as great faith (Mat 8:10 and Mat 15:28): therefore God gives honour to faith, great faith, because faith, great faith, gives honour to God. 5. He was fully persuaded that what God had promised he was able to perform, plērophorētheis - was carried on with the greatest confidence and assurance; it is a metaphor taken from ships that come into the harbour with full sail. Abraham saw the storms of doubts, and fears, and temptations likely to rise against the promise, upon which many a one would have shrunk back, and lain by for fairer days, and waited a smiling gale of sense and reason. But Abraham, having taken God for his pilot, and the promise for his card and compass, resolves to weather his point, and like a bold adventurer sets up all his sails, breaks through all the difficulties, regards neither winds nor clouds, but trusts to the strength of his bottom and the wisdom and faithfulness of his pilot, and bravely makes to the harbour, and comes home an unspeakable gainer. Such was his full persuasion, and it was built on the omnipotence of God: He was able. Our waverings rise mainly from our distrust of the divine power; and therefore to fix us it is requisite we believe not only that he is faithful, but that he is able, that hath promised. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness, Rom 4:22. Because with such a confidence he ventured his all in the divine promise, God graciously accepted him, and not only answered, but out-did, his expectation. This way of glorifying God by a firm reliance on his bare promise was so very agreeable to God's design, and so very conducive to his honour, that he graciously accepted it as a righteousness, and justified him, though there was not that in the thing itself which could merit such an acceptance. This shows why faith is chosen to be the prime condition of our justification, because it is a grace that of all others gives glory to God.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–22. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Romans VIII
For God neither gave any proof nor made any sign, but there were only bare words promising such things as nature did not hold out any hopes of. Yet still he says, "he staggered not." He does not say, "He did not disbelieve," but, "He staggered not," that is, he neither doubted nor hesitated though the hindrances were so great. From this we learn, that if God promise even countless impossibilities, and he that heareth doth not receive them, it is not the nature of things that is to blame, but the unreasonableness of him who receiveth them not. "But was strong in faith." See the pertinacity of Paul. For since this discourse was about them that work and them that believe, he shows that the believer works more than the other, and requires more power, and great strength, and sustains no common degree of labor. For they counted faith worthless, as having no labor in it. Insisting then upon this, he shows that it is not only he that succeeds in temperance, or any other virtue of this sort, but he that displays faith also who requires even greater power. For as the one needs strength to beat off the reasonings of intemperance, so hath the faithful also need of a soul endued with power, that he may thrust aside the suggestions of unbelief. How then did he become "strong?" By trusting the matter, he replies, to faith and not to reasonings: else he had fallen. But how came he to thrive in faith itself? By giving glory to God, he says.
PelagiusAD 418
PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON ROMANS
Abraham doubted neither the impossibility of old age nor the greatness of the promise.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
AUGUSTINE ON ROMANS 25
Paul says that Abraham “gave glory to God” when he was attacking those who were seeking their own glory in the sight of men by doing the works of the law.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Romans 4:20 celebrates Abraham's profound and unwavering faith in God's promise, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable natural obstacles. Rather than succumbing to doubt or disbelief, Abraham's conviction in God's power and faithfulness grew stronger, culminating in an act of worship as he gave glory to God for the certainty of His word. This verse highlights faith as an active, God-honoring trust that transcends human limitations and circumstances, serving as a foundational example for all who seek justification by faith.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Romans 4:20 employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is Contrast, setting Abraham's unwavering faith directly against the potential for "unbelief." This sharp juxtaposition emphasizes the active choice involved in faith and highlights the qualitative difference between a human-centric perspective (which would doubt due to circumstances) and a God-centric one (which trusts in divine power). There is also an element of Antithesis in the structure of the verse itself, with "staggered not... through unbelief" being directly opposed by "but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." This creates a powerful rhetorical effect, underscoring the positive outcome of faith as opposed to the negative consequence of doubt. Furthermore, the phrase "was strong in faith" can be seen as a form of Personification, attributing an active, dynamic quality to the abstract concept of faith, suggesting it is not merely a static belief but a vibrant, empowering force within the believer. Finally, the entire verse functions as an Exemplum, presenting Abraham as a model for all believers, demonstrating how genuine faith operates and what its ultimate result should be: the glorification of God.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Abraham's unwavering faith in Romans 4:20 serves as a theological cornerstone, illustrating that true righteousness before God is not earned but received through a trusting reliance on His promises. This concept transcends mere intellectual assent, embodying a profound conviction in God's character and power that actively dismisses doubt and magnifies His glory. Abraham's experience demonstrates that faith is the appropriate human response to divine revelation, acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty and ability to perform what He has promised, even when human reason or natural circumstances deem it impossible. His faith, therefore, was not a blind leap but an informed trust in the faithful God, setting a pattern for all believers who are called to live by faith, not by sight.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Abraham's example in Romans 4:20 offers a profound challenge and encouragement to believers today. In a world often dominated by what is seen, measured, and logically explained, Abraham's faith calls us to trust in a God who operates beyond human limitations. When faced with seemingly impossible situations—whether personal struggles, global crises, or delayed answers to prayer—we are prone to "stagger through unbelief." This verse reminds us that true faith is not the absence of questions or difficulties, but the active choice to cling to God's promise and character, even when circumstances scream otherwise. Our faith is strengthened not by our own efforts, but by fixing our gaze on the reliability of the Promiser. When we choose to believe God's word over our doubts, we are, like Abraham, "giving glory to God." This act of faith becomes an act of worship, affirming His power, faithfulness, and truthfulness. It empowers us to live with hope and courage, knowing that the God who made the promise is utterly capable of fulfilling it, and in doing so, He is magnified through our trust.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean that Abraham "staggered not"?
Answer: To "stagger" (Greek: diakrínō) in this context means to waver, doubt, or be undecided. The phrase "staggered not" emphatically declares that Abraham did not hesitate, question, or doubt God's ability or intention to fulfill His promise, despite the overwhelming natural evidence against it (his old age, Sarah's barrenness). His faith was firm, resolute, and unwavering, demonstrating a settled conviction in God's word that transcended human reasoning. It signifies a profound inner stability and trust.
How can Abraham's faith be "strong" when his circumstances were so weak?
Answer: Abraham's faith was "strong" not because of his own inherent power or the favorable nature of his circumstances, but because it was rooted in the omnipotence and faithfulness of God. His strength in faith (Greek: endynamóō) implies that his faith was empowered, made robust, or invigorated by its object—God Himself. He looked beyond his own physical limitations and the "deadness" of Sarah's womb (Romans 4:19) to the God "who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist" (Romans 4:17). This strength was a divine enablement, allowing him to maintain confidence in God's ability to do the impossible.
Why is "giving glory to God" so important in the context of faith?
Answer: "Giving glory to God" is the natural and highest outcome of genuine faith. When we believe God's promises, especially when they seem impossible, we are acknowledging His supreme power, trustworthiness, and sovereignty. Our faith validates His character and demonstrates that He is worthy of all praise and honor. It shows that we trust Him more than our circumstances, our logic, or our fears. This act of faith, therefore, becomes a profound act of worship, magnifying God's name and revealing His greatness to the world. It aligns our will with His, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of all truth and power.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 4:20, by highlighting Abraham's unwavering faith and its outcome of glorifying God, profoundly points to Christ as the ultimate object and fulfillment of such faith. Abraham's belief in God's promise of a "seed" (Genesis 22:18) ultimately finds its complete realization in Jesus Christ, through whom all the nations of the earth are blessed. Just as Abraham's faith was "counted to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3), so too is righteousness imputed to those who believe in Jesus, "who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25). Abraham's faith, which looked forward to a supernatural birth, foreshadows the spiritual rebirth available through Christ (John 3:3-7). Moreover, the "glory to God" that Abraham gave through his faith is supremely manifested in Christ, who is "the radiance of the glory of God" (Hebrews 1:3). Our faith, like Abraham's, is not merely in a promise, but in the person of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), through whom we too are enabled to live lives that bring ultimate glory to God.