Romans 4:17 – “As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”

Extended Explanation

Paul is quoting from Genesis 17:5, where God told Abraham, “I have made you a father of many nations.” At the time, Abraham had no children with his wife Sarah and was an old man, but God had already declared this promise to be true.

Paul highlights two key aspects of Abraham’s faith:

1. Abraham believed in God’s promise, even though it seemed impossible. He trusted that God would make him the father of many nations, even when he and Sarah were too old to have children.
2. Abraham believed in God’s power to bring life from death. Paul describes God as the one “who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” This means that God can create something out of nothing and can bring life where there is none.

Paul is showing that Abraham’s faith was not just a general belief in God—it was faith in God’s ability to do the impossible. In the same way, we are called to trust in God’s power, even when circumstances seem hopeless.

Historical Context

Abraham’s story is central to Jewish identity. He was the founding father of their nation, and they took great pride in being his physical descendants.

However, Paul is making an important point: Abraham was not just the father of the Jewish people—he was the father of all who have faith.

• In Genesis 12:1-3, God promised Abraham that “all nations on earth will be blessed through you.” This promise was not limited to Israel—it pointed to a worldwide blessing.
• In Genesis 15:6, Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith, not because of any law or religious ritual.

By quoting Genesis 17:5, Paul is proving that God’s promise was always meant to include people from every nation, not just the Jews. Anyone who has faith in God, like Abraham, is considered his spiritual descendant.

This was a radical idea for many Jews at the time. They thought that being a child of Abraham was about bloodline and circumcision. But Paul is showing that true children of Abraham are those who share his faith, not just those who share his DNA.

Theological Implications

This verse teaches several foundational truths about God and salvation:

• Faith is trusting in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible. Abraham had no human reason to believe he would become the father of many nations, yet he trusted God’s word.
• God is the giver of life. He has the power to bring life from death, both physically (as He did with Abraham and Sarah’s ability to have a child) and spiritually (as He does when He gives new life to those who believe in Him).
• God calls things into existence by His word. Just as He created the world by speaking (Genesis 1), He also creates spiritual life in those who believe in Him.
• Salvation is for all people, not just one nation. God’s promise to Abraham was always about bringing salvation to the whole world, not just to the Jewish people.

Paul is reinforcing that faith, not works or ancestry, is what truly matters in being part of God’s family.

Literary Analysis

Paul uses two powerful descriptions of God:

1. “The God who gives life to the dead” – This refers both to Abraham and Sarah’s situation (having a child in their old age was like bringing life from death) and to God’s greater power to bring spiritual life.
2. “The God who calls into being things that were not” – This refers to God’s ability to create something out of nothing, just as He created the universe by His word (Genesis 1).

By using these descriptions, Paul is making it clear that faith in God means believing that He can do what seems impossible.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Genesis 17:5 – “No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”
• Genesis 12:1-3 – God’s original promise to Abraham that he would be a blessing to all nations.
• Genesis 15:6 – “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
• Isaiah 55:11 – “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire.” (God’s word brings things into being.)
• Romans 10:9 – “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Faith in God’s power to raise the dead is central to salvation.)

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse teaches that faith is not just believing in God—it is believing in His power to do the impossible.

For today’s believer, this means:

• Trust God, even when your circumstances seem hopeless. Abraham believed God’s promise despite all human evidence to the contrary. We are called to do the same.
• God can bring life where there is none. If you feel spiritually dead, God can restore you. If you have a broken situation, God can redeem it.
• Faith is what makes you part of God’s family. Your background, your past, or your failures do not define you—faith in Christ does.
• God’s promises are secure. If He says it, He will do it. Abraham’s story proves that God always keeps His word.

This verse encourages believers to have strong faith in God’s promises, even when they seem far off.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

This verse reveals God’s great love and faithfulness:

• God chooses to work through faith, not human effort. He could have required people to earn their way to Him, but instead, He gives righteousness as a gift to those who trust Him.
• God’s promise is for all people. He does not limit salvation to one nation—He welcomes everyone who believes.
• God is faithful to His word. He made a promise to Abraham and kept it. This means we can trust that He will keep His promises to us as well.

God’s love is seen in how He gives life to the dead, both physically and spiritually.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.

• Through Jesus, people from every nation can become part of God’s family. (Galatians 3:8)
• Jesus is the one who gives spiritual life to the dead. (John 11:25)
• Just as Abraham believed in God’s power to bring life from death, we believe in the resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 10:9)
• Through Jesus, the promise to Abraham is fulfilled. (Galatians 3:16)

Abraham’s faith in God’s promise points forward to our faith in Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. What does it mean to have faith in God’s promises, even when they seem impossible?
2. How does Abraham’s story encourage you to trust God in difficult situations?
3. Why is it important that salvation is for all people, not just one nation or group?
4. How does knowing that God can “give life to the dead” strengthen your faith?
5. In what ways can you live with the same kind of faith that Abraham had?

Romans 4:17 is a powerful reminder that faith is about trusting God’s ability to do the impossible. Just as Abraham believed in God’s promise, we are called to believe in God’s power, especially through Jesus Christ. This is the kind of faith that makes us part of God’s family and secures His promises for us forever.