Romans 4:17-19 ASV

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:17

Verse 17 17.Whom he believed, who quickens the dead, etc. In this circuitous form is expressed the very substance of Abraham’s faith, that by his example an opening might be made for the Gentiles. He had indeed to attain, in a wonderful way, the promise which he had heard from the Lord’s mouth, since there was then no token of it. A seed was promised to him as though he was in vigor and strength; but he was as it were dead. It was hence necessary for him to raise up his thoughts to the power of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:18

Verse 18 18.Who against hope, etc. If we thus read, the sense is, that when there was no probable reason, yea, when all things were against him, he yet continued to believe. And, doubtless, there is nothing more injurious to faith than to fasten our minds to our eyes, that we may from what we see, seek a reason for our hope. We may also read, “above hope,” and perhaps more suitably; as though he had said that by his faith he far surpassed all that he could conceive; for except faith flies... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:19

Verse 19 19.In faith, etc. If you prefer to omit one of the negatives you may render it thus, “Being weak in faith, he considered not his own body,” etc.; but this makes no sense. He indeed shows now more fully what might have hindered, yea, and wholly turned Abraham aside from receiving the promise. A seed from Sarah was promised to him at a time when he was not by nature fit for generating, nor Sarah for conceiving. Whatever he could see as to himself was opposed to the accomplishment of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

(5) Abraham himself shown to have been justified by faith, and not by works, believers being his true heirs. The main points of the argument may be summarized thus: When Abraham obtained a blessing to himself and to his seed for ever, it was by faith, and not by works, that he is declared to have been justified so as to obtain it. Thus the promise to his seed, as well as to himself, rested on the principle of justification by faith only. The Law, of which the principle was essentially... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

Abraham's faith. We have already seen how the apostle has prepared the way for the great doctrine of justification by faith. He showed in the first two chapters that man has no righteousness of his own, that he could not justify himself, but, on the contrary, that both Jew and Gentile are all under sin. "There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Now, in this fourth chapter, he shows that this great fact—the necessity for justification by faith—has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

Abraham justified by faith alone. We have just seen in last chapter the utility of Judaism, the universal depravity of the race, the new channel for Divine righteousness which had consequently to be found, and the confirmation of law which is secured by faith. The apostle in the present chapter illustrates his argument from the history of Abraham. He was reckoned by the Jews as "father of the faithful;" his case is, therefore, a crucial one. Accordingly, Paul begins by asking, "What shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:9-22

All things are of faith. The position is now established that righteousness is through faith. But, they might say, through the faith of a circumcised man; and the promise of the inheritance was through the Law; and surely the posterity of Abraham came according to the flesh. He answers—Righteousness, heritage, posterity, by faith alone. I. RIGHTEOUSNESS . 1. The righteousness of faith without circumcision. In Gem 15. we have the record of Abraham's justification; the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:16-17

Therefore it is of faith, that it may be according to grace ( κατὰ χάριν , as in Romans 4:4 ); to the end the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all, (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee,) before him whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth the things that are not as though they were. , Romans 4:16 introduces no new thought, being but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:18

Hope against hope. Faith and hope are allied, though separate, exercises and habits of created, finite mind. Neither of the two is possible to God, who is independent and eternal, and can neither confide in a superior nor anticipate a future. Man's highest welfare depends upon faith, which is the principle of a high and noble life. Hope is less necessary, yet it belongs to a complete development of human nature, which looks forward to the future as well as upward to the unseen. Faith must... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:18-21

Who against hope in hope believed ( παρ ἐλπίδα ἐπ ἐλπίδι —an oxymoron. For a similar use of ἐπ ἐλπίδι , see 1 Corinthians 9:10 ; also below, Romans 5:2 . Its position in the Authorized Version might suggest its dependence on "believed," which is grammatically possible (cf. Romans 9:33 ; Romans 10:11 ), but unallowable here, since hope cannot well be regarded as the object of belief) to the end he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:9-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:16-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:18-21

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