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Text -- Romans 4:18 (NET)

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Context
4:18 Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.”
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Dictionary Themes and Topics: Works | Sin | Salvation | SEED | Rome | Romans, Epistle to the | Resurrection | Quotations and Allusions | Justification | Inclusiveness | INSPIRATION, 8-18 | Hope | HEBREWS, EPISTLE TO THE | GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE | Faith | Abraham | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Rom 4:18 - -- In hope believed against hope ( par' elpida ep' elpidi episteusen ). "Past hope in (upon) hope he trusted."Graphic picture.

In hope believed against hope ( par' elpida ep' elpidi episteusen ).

"Past hope in (upon) hope he trusted."Graphic picture.

Robertson: Rom 4:18 - -- To the end that he might become ( eis to genesthai auton ). Purpose clause again with eis to and the infinitive as in Rom 4:11-16.

To the end that he might become ( eis to genesthai auton ).

Purpose clause again with eis to and the infinitive as in Rom 4:11-16.

Wesley: Rom 4:18-21 - -- The Apostle shows the power and excellence of that faith to which he ascribes justification.

The Apostle shows the power and excellence of that faith to which he ascribes justification.

Wesley: Rom 4:18-21 - -- Against all probability, believed and hoped in the promise. The same thing is apprehended both by faith and hope; by faith, as a thing which God has s...

Against all probability, believed and hoped in the promise. The same thing is apprehended both by faith and hope; by faith, as a thing which God has spoken; by hope, as a good thing which God has promised to us.

Wesley: Rom 4:18-21 - -- Both natural and spiritual, as the stars of heaven for multitude. Gen 15:5.

Both natural and spiritual, as the stars of heaven for multitude. Gen 15:5.

JFB: Rom 4:18-22 - -- When no ground for hope appeared.

When no ground for hope appeared.

JFB: Rom 4:18-22 - -- That is, cherished the believing expectation.

That is, cherished the believing expectation.

JFB: Rom 4:18-22 - -- That is, Such "as the stars of heaven," Gen 15:5.

That is, Such "as the stars of heaven," Gen 15:5.

Clarke: Rom 4:18 - -- Who against hope believed in hope - The faith of Abraham bore an exact correspondence to the power and never-failing faithfulness of God; for though...

Who against hope believed in hope - The faith of Abraham bore an exact correspondence to the power and never-failing faithfulness of God; for though, in the ordinary course of things, he had not the best foundation of hope, yet he believed that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken; namely, that his posterity should be like the stars of heaven for multitude, and like the dust of the earth.

Calvin: Rom 4:18 - -- 18.Who against hope, etc. If we thus read, the sense is, that when there was no probable reason, yea, when all things were against him, he yet cont...

18.Who against hope, etc. If we thus read, the sense is, that when there was no probable reason, yea, when all things were against him, he yet continued to believe. And, doubtless, there is nothing more injurious to faith than to fasten our minds to our eyes, that we may from what we see, seek a reason for our hope. We may also read, “above hope,” and perhaps more suitably; as though he had said that by his faith he far surpassed all that he could conceive; for except faith flies upward on celestial wings so as to look down on all the perceptions of the flesh as on things far below, it will stick fast in the mud of the world. But Paul uses the word hope twice in this verse: in the first instance, he means a probable evidence for hoping, such as can be derived from nature and carnal reason; in the second he refers to faith given by God; 145 for when he had no ground for hoping he yet in hope relied on the promise of God; and he thought it a sufficient reason for hoping, that the Lord had promised, however incredible the thing was in itself.

===According to what had been said, === etc. So have I preferred to render it, that it may be applied to the time of Abraham; for Paul meant to say, that Abraham, when many temptations were drawing him to despair, that he might not fail, turned his thoughts to what had been promised to him, “Thy seed shall equal the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea;” but he resignedly adduced this quotation incomplete, in order to stimulate us to read the Scriptures. The Apostles, indeed, at all times, in quoting the Scriptures, took a scrupulous care to rouse us to a more diligent reading of them.

Defender: Rom 4:18 - -- This promise was "spoken" by God (Gen 15:5)."

This promise was "spoken" by God (Gen 15:5)."

TSK: Rom 4:18 - -- against : Rom 4:19, Rom 5:5, Rom 8:24; Rth 1:11-13; Pro 13:12; Eze 37:11; Mar 5:35, Mar 5:36; Luk 1:18; Act 27:25 So shall : Gen 15:5, Gen 15:6

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Rom 4:18 - -- Who against hope - Who against all apparent or usual ground of hope. He refers here to the prospect of a posterity; see Rom 4:19-21. Belie...

Who against hope - Who against all apparent or usual ground of hope. He refers here to the prospect of a posterity; see Rom 4:19-21.

Believed in hope - Believed in what was promised to excite his hope. Hope here is put for the object of his hope - what was promised.

According to what was spoken - Gen 15:5.

So shall thy seed be - That is, as the stars in heaven for multitude. Thy posterity shall be very numerous.

Poole: Rom 4:18 - -- Here the apostle digresseth a little from his principal argument, and falls into a commendation of Abraham’ s faith. Who against hope believed...

Here the apostle digresseth a little from his principal argument, and falls into a commendation of Abraham’ s faith.

Who against hope believed in hope: Abraham, when he had no natural or rational grounds of hope, either in respect of himself or Sarah his wife, did yet believe and hope he should have a son; and so be a root or stock, from whence many nations should spring: and this faith and hope of his was grounded upon the power and faithfulness of God.

So shall thy seed be so as the stars of heaven for multitude, which must be supplied out of the promise, in Gen 15:5 .

Haydock: Rom 4:18 - -- Who, against hope, believed in hope, or with hope. That is, Abraham, against all probability of human hopes, still hoped in God, says St. John Chrys...

Who, against hope, believed in hope, or with hope. That is, Abraham, against all probability of human hopes, still hoped in God, says St. John Chrysostom, that he should have a son by Sara: and in this, he was not weak in faith. Therefore it, that is, is great faith, was imputed to him unto justice: and also our faith shall be imputed to us unto justice, or make us truly just, by believing in Christ, &c. (Witham)

Gill: Rom 4:18 - -- Who against hope believed in hope,.... Abraham believed the promise of God, that he might become the father of many nations, being assisted by a su...

Who against hope believed in hope,.... Abraham believed the promise of God,

that he might become the father of many nations, being assisted by a supernatural aid: "in hope"; of the fulfilment of it by the grace and power of God: "against hope": against all visible, rational grounds of hope; Sarah's womb and his own body being dead, but inasmuch as God had said it, he believed:

according to that which is spoken, so shall thy seed be; his faith rested upon the word of God, which showed the nature of it, and that it was of the right kind.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Rom 4:18 A quotation from Gen 15:5.

Geneva Bible: Rom 4:18 ( 17 ) Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Rom 4:1-25 - --1 Abraham's faith was imputed to him for righteousness;10 before he was circumcised.13 By faith only he and his seed received the promise.16 Abraham i...

MHCC: Rom 4:13-22 - --The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Gen 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the ea...

Matthew Henry: Rom 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 ...

Barclay: Rom 4:18-25 - --The last passage ended by saying that Abraham believed in the God who calls the dead into life and who brings into being even things which have no exi...

Constable: Rom 3:21--6:1 - --III. THE IMPUTATION OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS 3:21--5:21 In beginning the next section of his argument Paul returne...

Constable: Rom 4:1-25 - --C. The proof of justification by faith from the law ch. 4 Paul's readers could have understood faith as ...

Constable: Rom 4:18-22 - --5. The exemplary value of Abraham's faith 4:18-22 Paul concluded his proof that faith was the only method of justification before the Cross by showing...

College: Rom 4:1-25 - --II. 4:1-25 - ABRAHAM: PARADIGM OF GRACE This next section of Romans (the entire fourth chapter) is a presentation of Abraham as a paradigm or pattern...

McGarvey: Rom 4:18 - --Who in hope believe against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Romans (Book Introduction) The Epistle to the Romans Spring of a.d. 57 By Way of Introduction Integrity of the Epistle The genuineness of the Epistle is so generally adm...

JFB: Romans (Book Introduction) THE GENUINENESS of the Epistle to the Romans has never been questioned. It has the unbroken testimony of all antiquity, up to CLEMENT OF ROME, the apo...

JFB: Romans (Outline) INTRODUCTION. (Rom. 1:1-17) THE JEW UNDER LIKE CONDEMNATION WITH THE GENTILE. (Rom. 2:1-29) JEWISH OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. (Rom 3:1-8) THAT THE JEW IS S...

TSK: Romans (Book Introduction) The Epistle to the Romans is " a writing," says Dr. Macknight, " which, for sublimity and truth of sentiment, for brevity and strength of expression,...

TSK: Romans 4 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Rom 4:1, Abraham’s faith was imputed to him for righteousness; Rom 4:10, before he was circumcised; Rom 4:13, By faith only he and his ...

Poole: Romans 4 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 4

MHCC: Romans (Book Introduction) The scope or design of the apostle in writing to the Romans appears to have been, to answer the unbelieving, and to teach the believing Jew; to confir...

MHCC: Romans 4 (Chapter Introduction) (Rom 4:1-12) The doctrine of justification by faith is shown by the case of Abraham. (Rom 4:13-22) He received the promise through the righteousness ...

Matthew Henry: Romans (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans If we may compare scripture with scripture, and take the opinion ...

Matthew Henry: Romans 4 (Chapter Introduction) The great gospel doctrine of justification by faith without the works of the law was so very contrary to the notions the Jews had learnt from those...

Barclay: Romans (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: Romans 4 (Chapter Introduction) The Faith Which Takes God At His Word (Rom_4:1-8) The Father Of The Faithful (Rom_4:9-12) All Is Of Grace (Rom_4:13-17) Believing In The God Who M...

Constable: Romans (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Throughout the history of the church, from postapos...

Constable: Romans (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-17 A. Salutation 1:1-7 1. The writer 1:1 ...

Constable: Romans Romans Bibliography Alford, Henry. The Greek Testament. 4 vols. New ed. Cambridge: Rivingtons, 1881. ...

Haydock: Romans (Book Introduction) THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE ROMANS. INTRODUCTION. After the Gospels, which contain the history of Christ, and the Acts of...

Gill: Romans (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS Though this epistle is in order placed the first of the epistles, yet it was not first written: there were several epistles ...

Gill: Romans 4 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ROMANS 4 The apostle having, in the preceding chapters, proved that there is no justification before God by the works of the law, p...

College: Romans (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION I. ROMANS: ITS INFLUENCE AND IMPORTANCE God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path (Ps 119:105), and no part of it shine...

College: Romans (Outline) VIII. OUTLINE PROLOGUE - 1:1-17 I. EPISTOLARY GREETING - 1:1-7 A. The Author Introduces Himself - 1:1 1. A Slave of Christ Jesus 2. Call...

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