Against hope, in hope: Abraham's faith in the God who promised (Romans 4:18–22)

Says "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”" (4:18, BSB). The quotation is Gen 15:5 in the words of Swete's LXX (note.language.Rom.4.17-Rom.4.18.gen-17-5-gen-15-5; xref.Rom.4.18.Gen.15.5.heb). On παρʼ ἐλπίδα ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι see note.language.Rom.4.18-Rom.4.21.par-elpida-diekrithe.

Implies Paul joins the two promises: the many nations of Gen 17:5 are the countless offspring of Gen 15:5.

Uncertain The text of 4:19. This commentary follows the Greek Scholar's lean to the reading without οὐ (var.Rom.4.19.ou-katenoesen): "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" (4:19, BSB). The alternative, with οὐ (RP and TR), has him "not consider" them. On either reading the point is μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει: he faced the facts, or looked past them, without weakening in faith. The printed text, with SBLGNT, omits ἤδη, "already," at low confidence; ℵ A C D read it, and WH, Treg, NA28, RP, and TR print it (var.Rom.4.19.ede).

Says Genesis gives the ages: Abraham a hundred and Sarah ninety (Gen 17:17), and Sarah past childbearing (18:11) (xref.Rom.4.19.Gen.17.17.heb; xref.Rom.4.19-Rom.4.21.Gen.18.11-Gen.18.14.heb; note.historical.Rom.4.1-Rom.4.25.sarah-barrenness).

Uncertain οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ (lex.G1252). This commentary leans to "did not waver," as the BSB has it ("Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God," 4:20, BSB), since the contrast with ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει fits. The alternative is "did not dispute" with God (note.language.Rom.4.18-Rom.4.21.par-elpida-diekrithe).

Implies Abraham's faith rested on God's promise and power, not on his own capacity: he was "fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised" (4:21, BSB; lex.G4135), and Gen 18:14 asks whether anything is too hard for the Lord. Such faith gives glory to God (4:20).

Uncertain How 4:19–20 relates to Abraham's laughter (Gen 17:17) and Sarah's (18:12). This commentary leans to Paul reading the whole account from its outcome, the birth of Isaac (Gen 21:1–7). The alternative is that Paul leaves those episodes aside and speaks of the settled direction of Abraham's faith.

Says "This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”" (4:22, BSB). The printed text, with SBLGNT, has διό at low confidence; ℵ A C and most witnesses read διὸ καί, and Tischendorf 8, WH, Treg, NA28, RP, and TR print it (var.Rom.4.22.kai).