Romans 4:20, Romans 4:21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 4:17-22

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 to?to that, certainly, which would be most likely to confirm his faith concerning the things promised:?1. God who... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 4:18-25

4:18-25 In hope Abraham believed beyond hope that he would become the father of many nations, as the saying had it, "So will be your seed.?" He did not weaken in his faith, although he was well aware that by this time his body had lost its vitality (for he was a hundred years old), and that the womb of Sarah was without life. He did not in unfaith waver at the promise of God, but he was revitalized by his faith, and he gave glory to God, and he was firmly convinced that he who had made the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 4:20

He staggered not at the promise of God ,.... There is no reason to stagger at, or hesitate about any of the promises of God, since they are made by him that cannot lie; his faithfulness is engaged to perform them; with him all things are possible; every promise is in Christ, yea and amen, and never did any fail; and yet so it is, that some of God's children, through unbelief , do stagger at the promises of God; thinking either that they are too great for them, or demur upon them through... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:20

Verse 20 20.Nor did he through unbelief make an inquiry, etc. Though I do not follow the old version, nor [Erasmus ], yet my rendering is not given without reason. The Apostle seems to have had this in view, — That Abraham did not try to find out, by weighing the matter in the balance of unbelief, whether the Lord was able to perform what he had promised. What is properly to inquire or to search into anything, is to examine it through diffidence or mistrust, and to be unwilling to admit what... 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 4:18-21

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:20

"Strong in faith." There is nothing upon which men are more given to pride themselves than upon their strength. The athlete boasts of his strength of muscle and of bodily constitution, the thinker of his strength of intellect, the monarch of his strength in war, the self-confident man of his strength of character. Such boasting is vain. Man's estimate of his own powers may seem absurd to other beings; in the presence of the Eternal and Almighty it is profane. Well did the prophet speak the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Romans 4:17-22

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Romans 4:18-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Romans 4:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Romans 4:20

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 4:18-21

The Pulpit Commentary - Romans 4:20

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