Romans 4:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do you see how the Apostle points both to the obstacles and to the lofty mind of the righteous man, surpassing all things? What was promised, he says, was beyond hope. This was the first difficulty, since Abraham had no opportunity to see another man who had received a son under such circumstances. Those who lived after him looked to him, but he looked to no one except God alone. Therefore it is said, "against hope" (Rom 4:18). Then his deadened flesh formed a second difficulty, and the deadness of Sarah's womb a third and a fourth.

Do not think, he says, that Abraham was counted worthy of honors without merit. How could this be, when beyond human hope he believed with divine hope that he would become father of many nations? Not of those who came from Ishmael, for they came from Abraham not by faith but by nature, but of those like him in faith.

This is according to what was said: “So numerous shall your seed be.” And, not becoming weak in faith, he did not consider that his body, almost a hundred years old, was already deadened, nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at God’s promise through unbelief, but remained strong in faith, giving glory to God and being fully assured that He was able to do what He had promised.

“He believed,” he says, “in God, Who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist as though they existed.” That is, from the deadened body of Abraham and the barren womb of Sarah He gave life and brought forth those who at that time did not exist.

Since they were granted through the promise given to them, God praised the faith of their father, who believed in his generations. Thus whoever was born from him would be like his father in faith, and would have the same faith that his parents had before the birth of the son.

This is the meaning of the words: “against hope, in hope he believed.” And he adds: “and he did not consider his own deadened body,” nor “the deadness of Sarah’s womb,” and so forth.

Seeing that his wife was barren, that both had been overtaken by the weakness of old age, that according to human reasoning there was not the least hope of childbearing, and that he could not encourage himself by any ancient example, Abraham received God's promise with faith. For by the words "against hope" the Apostle means hope according to nature, and by the words "in hope" he means hope in God's promise.

It is well said, "almost a hundred years old," because he was not one hundred, but ninety-nine (see Gen 17:1, 24).

The Apostle then sets forth, in the form of a dilemma, that Abraham could not have obtained the promise of being heir of the world otherwise than through the righteousness of faith.

Indeed, this great promise could be received either through faith or through fulfillment of the law. But “the law produces wrath, for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith,” the Apostle concludes, “that it might be according to mercy” (Rom 4:15-16).

By this very mercy the immutability of God’s promise is secured for all “the seed of Abraham according to faith, who is the father of us all” (Rom 4:16).

As though explaining the greatness of the promise given to Abraham and fulfilled through Jesus Christ, the Apostle points to the special depth and strength of Abraham’s faith. Abraham saw in God the almighty Creator, able to create from nothing and to restore from death to life.

Therefore, having no ordinary hope for childbearing because of his own deep old age and that of his wife Sarah, he placed all his hope in God. This hope of his was so firm that he regarded what was promised as already accomplished. Therefore he gave praise to God for such a wondrous work of His love and power.

“He did not become weak in faith” means that he did not allow his faith to weaken and prove infirm. There was much that could have shaken, weakened, and scattered his faith. Yet it was so strong, living, and powerful that it felt no crushing influence from outward hostile circumstances.

Why was this so? Because righteous Abraham, receiving the promise from the mouth of God, did not look at his deadened flesh or at Sarah’s deadness. He looked to the unlying word of the almighty God.