Romans 4:17

“As it is written I have made thee a father of many nations, etc..] The passage referred to, is in (<011704>Genesis 17:4,5); which proves him to be a father not of the Jews only, since they cannot be called “many nations”, but of the Gentiles also; and which must be understood in a spiritual sense, for Abraham was the father of them, before him whom he believed, [even] God; that is, he was so, either in the sight of God, who sees not as man sees; in his account, he was the father of many nations, long before he really in fact was; or “over against” or “like unto him”, as the word may signify: as God was the Father of many nations, so was Abraham, though not in such a sense as he is; and as…”

“As it is written, &c.-- (Gen 17:5). This is quoted to justify his calling Abraham the "father of us all," and is to be viewed as a parenthesis. before--that is, "in the reckoning of." him whom he believed--that is, "Thus Abraham, in the reckoning of Him whom he believed, is the father of us all, in order that all may be assured, that doing as he did, they shall be treated as he was." even God, quickeneth the dead--The nature and greatness of that faith of Abraham which we are to copy is here strikingly described. What he was required to believe being above nature, his faith had to fasten upon God's power to surmount physical incapacity, and call into being what did not then exist. But God…”

“As it is written - Genesis 17:5. I have made thee - The word used here in the Hebrew Genesis 17:5 means literally, to give, to grant; and also, to set, or constitute. This is also the meaning of the Greek word used both by the Septuagint and the apostle. The quotation is taken literally from the Septuagint. The argument of the apostle is founded in part on the fact that the past tense is used - I have made thee - and that God spoke of a thing as already done, which he had promised or purposed to do. The sense is, he had, in his mind or purpose, constituted him the father of many nations; and so certain was the fulfillment of the divine purposes, that he spoke of it as already accomplished.…”

“Before God - Though before men nothing of this appeared, those nations being then unborn. As quickening the dead - The dead are not dead to him and even the things that are not, are before God. And calling the things that are not - Summoning them to rise into being, and appear before him. The seed of Abraham did not then exist; yet God said, "So shall thy seed be." A man can say to his servant actually existing, Do this; and he doeth it: but God saith to the light, while it does not exist, Go forth; and it goeth. Gen 17:5. Romans 4:18”

“I have: Gen 17:4, Gen 17:5, Gen 17:16, Gen 17:20, 25:1-34, Gen 28:3; Heb 11:12 before him: or, like unto him, Rom 3:29 who quickeneth: Rom 4:2, Rom 8:11; Mat 3:9; Joh 5:21, Joh 5:25, Joh 6:63; Co1 15:45; Eph 2:1-5; Ti1 6:13 calleth: Rom 8:29, Rom 8:30, Rom 9:26; Isa 43:6, Isa 44:7, Isa 49:12, Isa 55:12; Act 15:18; Co1 1:28; Heb 11:7; Pe1 2:10; Pe2 3:8 Romans 4:18”