παρʼ ἐλπίδα ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι … οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ (4:18–21)
Says 4:18: ὃς παρʼ ἐλπίδα ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν, "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed" (BSB). Abbott-Smith lists both phrases at Ro 4:18 under ἐλπίς. The quotation Οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου matches Swete's Gen 15:5 word for word.
Uncertain The text of 4:19 (var.Rom.4.19.ou-katenoesen). This note leans to the reading without οὐ (ℵ A B C): Abraham "considered," κατενόησεν (katenoēsen), his body as good as dead and the νέκρωσις (nekrōsis, "deadness") of Sarah's womb, and still did not weaken in faith. The alternative, with οὐ (D F G and the Byzantine text), has him "not consider" them. Either way the point is μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει.
Uncertain 4:20 οὐ διεκρίθη (diekrithē) τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ. This note leans to "did not waver through unbelief." Abbott-Smith lists Ro 4:20 under "to be divided in one's mind, to hesitate, doubt," and the contrast with ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει fits. The alternative is the older middle sense, "did not dispute" with God.
Says 4:21: πληροφορηθείς (plērophorētheis, "fully convinced"). Abbott-Smith lists Ro 4:21 under "to persuade, assure or satisfy fully." Abraham was convinced that God is able to do what he has promised.
Implies Abraham's faith rested on God's promise and power (4:20–21; compare Gen 18:14), not on his own capacity.
Claims
- SaysAgainst hope Abraham believed in hope, according to the word 'So shall your offspring be' (4:18; Gen 15:5 LXX).
- UncertainWhether 4:19 reads κατενόησεν, 'he considered' his body and Sarah's deadness (lean; ℵ A B C), or οὐ κατενόησεν, 'he did not consider' (alternative; D F G, Byzantine).
- UncertainWhether οὐ διεκρίθη means 'did not waver/doubt' (lean; Abbott-Smith; contrast with ἐνεδυναμώθη) or 'did not dispute' (alternative).
- SaysAbraham was fully convinced (πληροφορηθείς) that God could do what he had promised (4:21).
- ImpliesAbraham's faith rested on God's promise and power, not on his own capacity (4:20–21; Gen 18:14).
Citations
- Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἐλπίς (παρ’ ἐλπίδα, ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι, Ro 4:18)
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. διακρίνω (δ. τ. ἀπιστίᾳ, Ro 4:20) —
to be divided in one's mind, to hesitate, doubt
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Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. πληροφορέω (pass., Ro 4:21) —
to persuade, assure or satisfy fully
- LXX (Swete) CC BY-SA 4.0 vol. 1, p. 23 (Gen 15:5), scan archive.org oldtestamentingr01swetuoft leaf 54, checked 2026-10-30; no apparatus entry at 15:5
- Tischendorf⁸ public domain vol. 2 (1872), p. 384 (Rom 4:19), leaf n391, read on the page image 2026-10-30
- BSB public domain Rom 4:18
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits
2026-10-30
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