KwabaseRoma 4:17

Izhibhalo Ezingcwele

17 (njengokuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa, Ndikumisile ukuba ube nguyise weentlanga ezininzi), phambi koThixo awakholwayo kuye, obadlisa ubomi abafileyo, azibize izinto ezingekhoyo, zinge zikho.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I have: Genesis 17:4, Genesis 17:5, Genesis 17:16, Genesis 17:20, Genesis 25:1-34, Genesis 28:3, Hebrews 11:12

before him: or, like unto him, Romans 3:29

who quickeneth: Romans 4:2, Romans 8:11, Matthew 3:9, John 5:21, John 5:25, John 6:63, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Ephesians 2:1-5, 1 Timothy 6:13

calleth: Romans 8:29, Romans 8:30, Romans 9:26, Isaiah 43:6, Isaiah 44:7, Isaiah 49:12, Isaiah 55:12, Acts 15:18, 1 Corinthians 1:28, Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 2:10, 2 Peter 3:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:1 - visited 1 Kings 17:9 - widow woman Ezekiel 37:3 - O Lord God Mark 5:41 - Damsel Mark 12:27 - is not Luke 7:14 - Young Luke 8:50 - believe Luke 8:54 - Maid John 11:25 - he that John 11:40 - Said John 11:52 - the children Acts 2:23 - being Romans 9:11 - the children 2 Corinthians 1:9 - in God 2 Corinthians 3:6 - giveth life Colossians 2:13 - he 1 Thessalonians 5:13 - and be Hebrews 6:15 - General Hebrews 7:4 - Abraham Hebrews 11:3 - faith Hebrews 11:19 - God James 1:18 - his own

Gill's Notes on the Bible

As it is written I have made thee a father of many nations,.... The passage referred to, is in Genesis 17:4; which proves him to be a father not of the Jews only, since they cannot be called "many nations", but of the Gentiles also; and which must be understood in a spiritual sense, for Abraham was the father of them,

before him whom he believed, [even] God; that is, he was so, either in the sight of God, who sees not as man sees; in his account, he was the father of many nations, long before he really in fact was; or "over against" or "like unto him", as the word may signify: as God was the Father of many nations, so was Abraham, though not in such a sense as he is; and as God is the Father of us all that believe, so was Abraham; there is some little likeness and resemblance in this between them, though not sameness. The object of his faith is described as he,

who quickeneth the dead: meaning either the dead body of Abraham and Sarah's womb; or Isaac, who was given up for dead; or the Gentiles, who were dead in trespasses and sins; or rather the dead bodies of men at the last day, a work which none but the almighty God can effect; the consideration of which is sufficient to engage faith in the promises of God, and a dependence on him for the fulfilment or them: and who stands further described as he, who

calleth those things which be not, as though they were; so he called Abraham the father of many nations, when he was not in fact, as if he really was; and the Gentiles his seed and offspring, before they were; and when he comes effectually to call them by his grace, they are represented as "things which are not", whom he called, "to bring to nought things that are", 1 Corinthians 1:28; they were not his people, nor his children, and he called them so, and by his grace made them so, and made them appear to be so; for as in creation so in regeneration, God calls and brings that into being which before was not: and the phrase seems to be an allusion to the creation of all things out of nothing; and it is a Rabbinical one, for so the Jews speaking of the creation say s

"Nya la arwq, "he calls to that which is not", and it is excluded; (i.e. all things are excluded out of it, as a chicken out of an egg;) and to that which is, and it is established, and to the world, and it is stretched out.''

s R. Solomon ben Gabirol in Cether Malcuth apud L. Capell. in loc.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

As it is written - Genesis 17:5.

I have made thee - The word used here in the Hebrew Genesis 17:5 means literally, to give, to grant; and also, to set, or constitute. This is also the meaning of the Greek word used both by the Septuagint and the apostle. The quotation is taken literally from the Septuagint. The argument of the apostle is founded in part on the fact that the past tense is used - I have made thee - and that God spoke of a thing as already done, which he had promised or purposed to do. The sense is, he had, in his mind or purpose, constituted him the father of many nations; and so certain was the fulfillment of the divine purposes, that he spoke of it as already accomplished.

Of many nations - The apostle evidently understands this promise as referring, not to his natural descendants only, but to the great multitude who should believe as he did.

Before him - In his view, or sight; that is, God regarded him as such a father.

Whom he believed - Whose promise he believed; or in whom he trusted.

Who quickeneth the dead - Who gives life to the dead, Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:5. This expresses the power of God to give life. But why it is used here has been a subject of debate. I regard it as having reference to the strong natural improbability of the fulfillment of the prophecy when it was given, arising from the age of Abraham and Sarah, Romans 4:19. Abraham exercised power in the God who gives life, and who gives it as he pleases. It is one of his prerogatives to give life to the dead (νεκρους nekrous), to raise up those who are in their graves; and a power similar to that, or strongly reminding of that, was manifested in fulfilling the promise to Abraham. The giving of this promise, and its fulfillment, were such as strongly to remind us that God has power to give life to the dead.

And calleth ... - That is, those things which he foretels and promises are so certain, that he may speak of them as already in existence. Thus, in relation to Abraham, God, instead of simply promising that he would make him the father of many nations, speaks of it as already done, “I have made thee,” etc. In his own mind, or purpose, he had so constituted him, and it was so certain that it would take place, that he might speak of it as already done.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Romans 4:17. As it is written, I have made thee a father — That Abraham's being a father of many nations has relation to the covenant of God made with him, may be seen, Genesis 17:4, Genesis 17:5 : Behold my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations: neither shall thy name any more be called Abram; but thy name shall be Abraham, for a father of many nations have I made thee, i.e. he was constituted the head of many nations, the Gentile world, by virtue of the covenant, which God made then with him.

God, who quickeneth the dead, c.] God is the most proper object of trust and dependence for being almighty, eternal, and unchangeable, he can even raise the dead to life, and call those things which be not as though they were. He is the Creator, he gave being when there was none; he can as infallibly assure the existence of those things which are not, as if they were already actually in being. And, on this account, he can never fail of accomplishing whatsoever he has promised.