How does Romans 4:17 connect with Genesis 17:5 about Abraham's name change? Setting the Scene Romans 4:17 reaches back to an unforgettable moment in Genesis 17:5 when God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. The same promise appears in both passages, anchoring Paul’s teaching in the historic, literal event recorded by Moses. Abraham’s Name Change (Genesis 17:5) “No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” • Abram (“exalted father”) becomes Abraham (“father of a multitude”). • God speaks in the perfect tense—“I have made”—though Isaac is not yet born. • The change is irreversible because God’s word is certain. Paul’s Reflection (Romans 4:17) “As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not yet exist.” • Paul quotes Genesis 17:5 verbatim. • He highlights two divine actions: – Giving life to the dead. – Calling nonexistent realities into being. • Abraham’s faith rests on these attributes of God. How the Two Passages Interlock • Direct quotation: Romans 4:17 cites Genesis 17:5 as the foundation for Paul’s argument about faith. • Same verb tense: “I have made” underscores that God’s promise is as good as done the moment He speaks. • Creative power: The God who named Abraham “father of many nations” is the same God who “calls into being things that do not yet exist,” whether an unborn child (Isaac) or a redeemed people (believing Jews and Gentiles). • Resurrection theme: Just as God can create life where there was none, He can raise the dead—foreshadowing Isaac’s near-sacrifice (Genesis 22) and Christ’s resurrection (Romans 4:24-25). Supporting Passages • Hebrews 11:11-12—Sarah conceives because God is faithful. • Hebrews 11:19—Abraham reasons that God can raise the dead. • Galatians 3:7-9—Believers are Abraham’s children through faith. • 2 Corinthians 1:20—Every promise of God is “Yes” in Christ. • Psalm 33:6, 9—God speaks, and creation exists. God’s Character on Display • Creator out of nothing—Genesis 1:3; Romans 4:17. • Life-giver to the dead—John 11:25-26; Romans 8:11. • Covenant-keeper—Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:13-18. • Name-changer—Genesis 32:28 (Jacob to Israel); Revelation 2:17 (a new name for overcomers). Faith’s Response • Believe before seeing (Hebrews 11:1). • Accept God’s verdict over visible circumstances (2 Corinthians 5:7). • Rest in the finished character of God’s promises (Romans 4:20-21). • Live in the identity God assigns, just as Abraham lived as “father of many” long before Isaac played at his feet. Takeaway Because God’s voice both defines reality and creates it, Abraham could wear his new name with confidence. Romans 4:17 invites every believer to exercise the same kind of faith: embracing God’s promises as accomplished facts, even when present circumstances have yet to catch up. |
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