Rom 4:18-22 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 18. Who against hope . Who against all apparent or usual ground of hope. He refers here to the prospect of a posterity. See . Believed in hope . Believed in that which was promised to excite his hope. Hope here is put for the object of his hope--that which was promised. According to that which was spoken . . So shall they seed be. . That is, as the stars in heaven for multitude. Thy posterity shall be very numerous. (w) "So shall thy seed be"

Romans 4:18-22

Verse 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.

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

According to that which was spoken. Gen 15:5.

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

(w) "So shall thy seed be" Gen 15:5 Verse 19. And being not weak in faith. That is, having strong faith.

He considered not. He did not regard the fact that his body was now dead, as any obstacle to the fulfilment of the promise. He did not suffer that fact to influence him, or to produce any doubt about the fulfilment. Faith looks to the strength of God, not to second causes, or to difficulties that may appear formidable to man.

Now dead. Aged; dead as to the purpose under consideration. Comp. Heb 11:12, "As good as dead." That is, he was now at an age when it was highly improbable that he would have any children. Comp. Gen 17:17.

Deadness, etc. Heb 11:11, "When she was past age." Comp. Gen 18:11.

(x) "deadness of Sarah's womb" Verse 20. He staggered not. He was not moved, or agitated; he steadily and firmly believed the promise.

Giving glory to God. Giving honour to God by the firmness with which he believed his promises. His conduct was such as to honour God; that is, to show Abraham's conviction that he was worthy of implicit confidence and trust. In this way all who believe in the promises of God do honour to him. They bear testimony to him that he is worthy of confidence. They become so many witnesses in his favour; and furnish to their fellow-men evidence that God has a claim on the credence and trust of mankind. Verse 21. And being fully persuaded. Thoroughly or entirely convinced, Lk 1:1, Rom 14:5, 2Ti 4:5,17.

He was able. Comp. Gen 18:14. This was not the only time in which Abraham evinced this confidence. His faith was equally implicit and strong when he was commanded to sacrifice his promised son, Heb 11:19.

(y) "also able to perform" Gen 18:14, Lk 1:37,45, Heb 11:19 Verse 22. And therefore, this faith was so implicit, and so unwavering, that it was a demonstration that he was the firm friend of God. He was tried, and he had such confidence in God that he showed that he was supremely attached to him, and would obey and serve him. This was reckoned as a full proof of friendship; and he was recognized and treated as righteous; i.e., as the friend of God. Rom 4:3,5.