Romans 4:19

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:

And {G2532} being not {G3361} weak {G770} in faith {G4102}, he considered {G2657} not {G3756} his own {G1438} body {G4983} now {G2235} dead {G3499}, when he was {G5225} about {G4225} an hundred years old {G1541}, neither yet {G2532} the deadness {G3500} of Sara's {G4564} womb {G3388}:

His trust did not waver when he considered his own body — which was as good as dead, since he was about a hundred years old — or when he considered that Sarah’s womb was dead too.

Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

Commentary

Context

Romans chapter 4 is a pivotal passage where the Apostle Paul uses the example of Abraham to demonstrate that justification before God is by faith, not by works of the law or circumcision. Having established this principle in the preceding verses, Paul delves into Abraham's life story from Genesis to show that even the patriarch, the father of the Jewish nation, was declared righteous because he believed God's promise. Verse 19 specifically highlights the strength and nature of Abraham's faith in believing God for a son through Sarah, despite their extreme age and physical limitations, a promise God made to him, detailed in Genesis 15:5.

Commentary on Romans 4:19

This verse describes the quality of Abraham's faith. Paul states that Abraham was "not weak in faith." This means his belief in God's promise was robust and unwavering, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable physical obstacles. He "considered not" his own body, which at around 100 years old was physically incapable of fathering a child, nor did he consider "the deadness of Sara's womb," acknowledging Sarah's biological inability to conceive. The phrase "deadness" underscores the complete lack of natural potential for childbearing in both Abraham and Sarah at that stage of life. Despite this stark reality, Abraham did not allow these facts to diminish his confidence in God's ability to fulfill His word. His faith looked beyond the physical limitations and rested solely on the power and faithfulness of God.

Key Themes

  • Faith Against Circumstances: Abraham's faith did not deny the reality of his and Sarah's physical condition but chose to trust God's promise over the evidence of his senses and the limitations of nature.
  • Strength of Faith: The verse emphasizes that Abraham's faith was "not weak," highlighting the resilience required to believe God for the impossible.
  • Believing the Impossible: This passage is a powerful illustration of faith as believing in God's power to do what is humanly impossible, like bringing life from what is physically "dead."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "considered not" comes from the Greek word katanoeō (κατανοέω). While it can mean to observe or consider carefully, in this context, it implies that Abraham did not allow the careful consideration of his physical state ("his own body now dead") or Sarah's ("the deadness of Sara's womb") to undermine or negate his faith in God's promise. He was aware of the facts but chose not to dwell on them in a way that would lead to doubt or unbelief.

Related Scriptures

Abraham's faith here is directly linked to his justification, as seen in Romans 4:3, which quotes Genesis 15:6: "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." The power of God to bring life from the dead, which Abraham believed, is a theme also found in Romans 4:17, where Paul describes God as "him who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." The faith of Sarah in this same promise is mentioned in Hebrews 11:11.

Practical Application

Abraham's example in Romans 4:19 challenges believers today to trust God's promises even when our circumstances seem hopeless or contrary to what God has said. It encourages us not to let physical limitations, past failures, or the apparent impossibility of a situation become the focus of our minds or the foundation of our decisions. Instead, like Abraham, we are called to fix our faith on the character and power of God, believing that He is able to do far beyond what we can see or imagine, and that His word is utterly reliable.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 17:17 (9 votes)

    Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

  • Hebrews 11:11 (9 votes)

    Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

  • Hebrews 11:19 (9 votes)

    Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

  • Romans 4:20 (8 votes)

    He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

  • Romans 4:21 (8 votes)

    And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

  • John 20:27 (5 votes)

    Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

  • John 20:28 (5 votes)

    And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.