(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.
ROMANS 4:17KJVWhat does Romans 4:17 mean?
Romans 4:17 says that God made Abraham the father of many nations, and that Abraham believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things that do not exist as if they already do. This verse highlights God’s power to fulfill promises that seem impossible from a human point of view.
Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome, explaining how Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness before God. Paul quotes God’s promise to Abraham and points out that Abraham trusted God’s ability to create life and bring about what He had promised, even when there was no visible evidence. The verse sets up Abraham as an example of faith in God’s creative and life-giving power.
The Greek behind Romans 4:17
- "quickeneth" (ζῳοποιέω, zōopoieō): This word means "to make alive" or "to give life." Paul uses it to describe God’s unique ability to bring life out of death, which is central to the story of Abraham and Sarah having a child in old age.
- "calleth" (καλέω, kaleō): This means "to call" or "to name." Here, it refers to God’s power to speak things into existence, treating what does not yet exist as if it already does. This emphasizes God’s creative authority.
- "be not" (μὴ ὄντα, mē onta): This phrase means "things which are not" or "things that do not exist." Paul uses it to show that God can bring about realities that are not yet present, underlining the idea of faith in what is unseen.
Why Romans 4:17 matters
- Romans 4:17 clears up the misunderstanding that faith is only about believing what is already visible or possible; it shows that faith trusts God’s promises even when they seem impossible.
- The verse emphasizes God’s creative power, connecting Abraham’s story to the broader biblical theme of God bringing life from death and calling into being what does not yet exist.
- Romans 4:17 helps readers see why Abraham is called the father of faith: he trusted in God’s ability to do what no human could, which is the foundation for Paul’s teaching on justification by faith.