Romans 4:18
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Romans 4:18 (KJV)
Context
Romans is an epistle written by the apostle Paul to the Christians in Rome. In this chapter, Paul discusses justification by faith and uses Abraham as his primary example. The pronoun “he” in this verse refers to Abraham, who is often called the father of faith. Paul uses Abraham’s life to illustrate how faith leads to righteousness.
Meaning
“Who against hope believed in hope” means that Abraham believed in hope even when the circumstances seemed impossible. He and Sarah were advanced in age and beyond childbearing years, so it seemed humanly impossible for them to have children. Yet Abraham had hope in God’s promise that he would become the father of many nations. The phrase “against hope” refers to all apparent or usual grounds of hope, while “believed in hope” means he trusted in the very thing God had promised, relying on God’s grace and power rather than on human possibility.
“That he might become the father of many nations” points to God’s promise to Abraham. Abraham’s faith was centered on this promise, and he trusted that God would fulfill it despite the apparent impossibility. “According to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” refers to the promise in Genesis 15:5, where God told Abraham that his seed would be as the stars of heaven for multitude. This promise included not only physical descendants but also spiritual descendants—believers from all nations who share Abraham’s faith (Romans 4:16).
Biblical connections
Paul’s quotation of Genesis 15:5 is incomplete, which encourages readers to turn to the Old Testament and see the full promise. Abraham’s faith did not weaken when he considered his own body as good as dead (he was about a hundred years old) or the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not regard these obstacles as barriers to God’s fulfillment. Faith looks to the strength of God, not to second causes or difficulties that appear formidable to man.
Application
Faith in God’s promises: Abraham’s unwavering faith in the face of impossibility serves as an example to us. No matter how hopeless a situation may seem, if God has given a promise, we can trust in His faithfulness to fulfill it.
Believing against hope: Abraham’s belief against hope means he had faith even when circumstances seemed to indicate otherwise. Our faith should not be based on what we see or understand, but on the trustworthiness of God’s character and His promises.
God’s faithfulness: Romans 4:18 highlights the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God. He is able to bring about what seems impossible according to human understanding. We can rely on His promises and have confidence in His ability to fulfill them.
Reflection
Romans 4:18 calls us to examine where we place our hope. Abraham’s hope was not in his own ability or circumstances, but in the God who speaks and fulfills. When we face situations that seem dead or impossible, we can follow Abraham’s example by fixing our hope on God’s promises rather than on what we see. His faithfulness remains the same, and He is able to do what He has spoken.
