(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)
The concluding part of the verse reads literally, “calls things not being as being.” This may be understood as meaning that God calls into being the things that do not exist, or that God speaks of things nonexistent as though they existed. There may also be a remote reference to the calling of the Gentiles, who, although they are not yet God’s people, are included in the promise as if they were. “I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved” (Rom. 9:25; cf. Hosea 1:9, 10).
All of these interpretations may really imply the same thing. God promises Abraham that he will be the father of many nations, who do not as yet exist, at a time when Abraham himself does not yet have an heir and when he has passed the age when he may naturally expect to have one (Rom. 4:19). But Abraham has faith to believe that God can give life to his dead body and can summon into existence the things promised, of which God speaks in His foreknowledge as if they already existed. The Christian’s faith must be no less, and in the following verses Paul sets forth Abraham’s faith as an example.
The reason for Paul’s reference to the resurrecting power of God in this verse is not entirely clear. It seems to be generally agreed that Paul is thinking first of the circumstances of Isaac’s birth (Rom. 4:19), and then of the resurrection of Christ (v. 24).
Rather, “in the presence of.” This phrase may be connected with the words that immediately precede the parenthetical quotation from Gen. 17:5, thus making the passage read, “Who stands as the father of us all in the presence of that God in whom he believed.” Or, the phrase may be connected with the first part of the previous verse, thus emphasizing the making sure or the guaranteeing of the promise in the sight of God (see RSV).
Paul may be recalling the occasion of Abraham’s conversation with God, when in the presence of the Lord, Abraham accepted by faith the divine promise that he should be the father of many nations (Gen. 17:1-4). In the eyes of men the promise was impossible of fulfillment. But Abraham, as the friend of God, stood in the presence of the all-powerful God of creation, who could predict the future and bring to pass His own commands. And while Abraham was there he was appointed the father of many nations.
Abraham’s experience was typical of that of all believers. God promises perfect restoration to the sinner, and humanly speaking it does not seem possible that the promise can ever be fulfilled. Nevertheless, the promise is sure, for it is given to us in the very sight of the One who sees and knows us all, the God who possesses the creative power to transform us again into His image. All that is asked of us is that we accept this by faith, as did Abraham.
Have made.
Gr. tithēmi, “to appoint,”“to constitute.” The verb used in the Hebrew of Gen. 17:5 may also be thus translated. For similar use of the Greek word elsewhere in the NT see Matt. 24:51; John 15:16; Acts 13:47; 1 Tim. 2:7, where it is translated respectively “appoint,”“ordained,”“set,” and “ordained.”
It is written.
The quotation is from Gen. 17:5. At the time the promise was made Abraham’s name was changed to Abraham (see on Gen. 17:5). Paul interprets this promise as referring to the spiritual fatherhood of Abraham.