A Father of Many Nations Romans 4:17

Paul the apostle told the Jews in Rome, “Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression”, and he added, “therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all”. In chapter four and verse seventeen of Romans, Paul referred to how Abraham was made, “a father of many nations” where we read:

(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.

The verse begins, “(As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, ...” Paul began with the words, “as it is written” which means “in the manner and way it is delineated or formed in letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “I have made you” or “God put, laid, and set Abraham as” “a father” or “a generator or male ancestor” “of many nations” which means “large numbers and plenteous amounts of multitudes, companies, troops and people groups”. Paul referred to Genesis chapter seventeen and verse four where we read, “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations” as he referred to Abraham who “believed” God's promise.

The verse continues, “even God, who quickens the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.” Paul added the words, “even God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “who quickens” or “who produces alive, begets and gives life to” “the dead” which means “one that has breathed his last who is lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life and inanimate”, “and calls” or “and utters in a loud voice, invites and salutes one by name” “those things which be” or “being things” “as though they were” which means “like they already exist”. Paul noted how God who can make “the dead” alive again and speak things into existence as though they already existed.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see the awesome power and knowledge of God. God can “raise the dead”, and because he exists outside of time, He can speak of things existing before they actually do. This is the God in whom Paul “put his faith and trust”, and when he did, God counted it as “righteousness” which would be to all people. This same God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to offer “salvation” and “resurrection” to every person in every nation who puts their “faith and trust” in Him.

Next time Paul tells the people in Rome how Abraham, “against hope believed in hope”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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