Romans 4:20 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 4:20

Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,

KJV

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

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Commentary

4 voices

Origen of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS (253)

Therefore Abraham "against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations," which were to be as the stars of heaven, not only in multitude but also in brightness; and he, faithfully believing him who promised, "was not," he says, "weakened in faith." What he says, "he was not weakened in faith," seems to me to show that there is a certain weakness in faith. But if there is weakness, there is without doubt also health, as he shows in other places when he says: "Rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Romans (1274)

Then when he says, in the promise also of God, he commends Abraham's faith in the repeated promise that his seed would be exalted. First, he mentions the firmness of faith; second, the cause of the firmness, at giving glory to God. First, therefore, he …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God's promises. It is not the promise that fails, but our faith that fails when we stagger. He was strong in faith, giving glory to God, enedynamothe -- he was strengthened in faith, his faith got ground by exercise--crescit eundo.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

He staggered not - He was not moved, or agitated; he steadily and firmly believed the promise. Giving glory to God - Giving honor to God by the firmness with which he believed his promises. His conduct was Such as to honor God; that is, to show Abraham’s conviction that he was worthy of implicit confidence and trust. In this way all who believe in the promises of God do honor to him. They bear testimony to him that he is worthy of confidence.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Who against hope--when no ground for hope appeared. believed in hope--that is, cherished the believing expectation. that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be--that is, Such "as the stars of heaven," Ge 15:5.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

18 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
εἰς	eis	About	G1519 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
ἐπαγγελίαν	epangelian	promise	G1860 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
θεοῦ	theou	of God	G2316 →
οὐ	ou	not	G3756 →
διεκρίθη	diekrithē	he did waver	G1252 →
τῇ	tēa	<the>	G3588 →
ἀπιστίᾳ,	apistia	through unbelief,	G570 →
ἀλλ᾽	all᾽	but	G235 →
ἐνεδυναμώθη	enedunamōthē	was strengthened	G1743 →
τῇ	tēa	<the>	G3588 →
πίστει,	pistei	in faith,	G4102 →
δοὺς	dous	having given	G1325 →
δόξαν	doxan	glory	G1391 →
τῷ	tō	<the>	G3588 →
θεῷ	theō	to God	G2316 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
leads to
- Ephesians 6:10
  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
  Reached by 3 independent paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Joshua 1:9
  Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Ephesians 6:13–18
  Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Through
2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
Through
2 Timothy 2:1
You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:7
  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
Through
Luke 1:45
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”
leads to
- John 20:29
  Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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About Romans

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Romans: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →

Continue: Romans 4 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Romans

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Romans