Romans 4:17 meaning
In this verse, the Apostle Paul refers to God as the one who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist. This profoundly illustrates the nature of God's promise to Abraham, emphasizing faith beyond mere logic or circumstances. It serves to highlight God’s omnipotence, showing that His promises are dependable regardless of human limitations. Abraham exemplified such faith, believing God’s promise to make him the father of many nations, despite his and Sarah's advanced age and barrenness.
The emphasis on Abraham's unwavering faith amid hopeless circumstances parallels the believer's journey of faith today. Just as Abraham looked to God and trusted in His ability to fulfill His promises, believers are encouraged to trust in God’s faithfulness in their lives, grounding their hope not in human reasoning but in divine promise. Thus, Paul illustrates that this faith is the basis of justification, establishing that true faith is recognized and counted as righteousness by God, as seen in Romans 4:17.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Deeper Commentary Covering this Verse:
- Romans 4:16-17 meaning. No one can live up to God’s standard; we are saved by grace through faith. Every person, in every nation who believes is made a part of Abraham’s family and therefore a part of Abraham’s inheritance—because Abraham is the father of all who believe.
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Exodus 17:8-16 meaning. Another important event happened while the Israelites were at Rephadim. The Amalekites attacked them (8 – 16). Moses ordered Joshua to take an army to repel the attack, , while he stood on a hill overlooking the battle with the staff of God. When he raised the staff into the air, the Israelites prevailed, and if he lowered the staff, the Amalekites got the better of the Israelites. When Moses’ arms got tired, his assistants propped up his arms until sunset, allowing Joshua to win the battle. The LORD then instructed Moses to write the account of the battle as a memorial to the fact that He would eliminate the Amalekites from the earth. Moses in turn built an altar to the LORD.
- Romans 10:9-11 meaning. Here, Paul restates the lesson of the previous verses, Romans 10:6–8, with a saying in the form of a chiasm.
- Daniel 9:24-25 meaning. God answers Daniel: Seventy “sevens” have been decreed. Not only will Jerusalem be rebuilt and restored, but God will send His Messiah, sin and transgressions will be finished, disobedience will be atoned for, prophecies will be finished, and righteousness will last forever.