Romans 4:21
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Romans 4:21
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Abraham's faith wasn't just about believing God would do it, but that God was mighty enough to do it, no matter how impossible it seemed. This wasn't wishful thinking; it was a deep, active conviction in God's immense power overriding all human limitations and circumstances.
Paul is explaining how Abraham was counted righteous not by works, but by faith. He uses Abraham's story to show that this promise was made to him long before the Law was given, and that his faith rested on God's power to bring about the seemingly impossible. This conviction about God’s ability is presented as the very heart of Abraham's strong faith.
Life throws curveballs that seem to erase God's promises. How did Abraham hold on when everything pointed to 'no'?
Abraham's faith wasn't wishful thinking; it was a deep-seated conviction that God's power dwarfed any human obstacle. Even when his own body was aged beyond any possibility of fatherhood, and Sarah was well past childbearing years, Abraham didn't focus on the deadness of their bodies. Instead, his faith locked onto God's promise and God's ability to bring it to pass. This wasn't ignoring reality, but choosing to believe God's reality over his own circumstances.
Think about it: The promise of a child, a vast nation, and a world-blessing lineage seemed utterly impossible through natural means. Yet, Abraham’s faith chose to see God's power as the ultimate factor, not human limitations.
What does it truly mean to be 'fully convinced'? It’s more than just hoping; it’s a profound certainty rooted in who God is.
The Greek word used here for 'fully persuaded' (plērophoretheis) suggests being filled up, completely assured, and having a certainty that leaves no room for doubt. Abraham wasn't just hoping God might come through; he was deeply persuaded that God would. This conviction rested on two pillars: the reliability of God's promise and the absolute power of God to fulfill it.
His faith wasn't about how God would do it, but that God would do it. This assurance comes from knowing God’s character – that He is faithful to His word and Almighty in His power. When we anchor our faith in these unchanging attributes, our confidence can stand firm, even when our circumstances are shaky.
Understand the original words
plērophorētheis · Greek Verb
Being completely certain or persuaded in one's mind, often implying an unshakable trust in God's reliability and power.
Theos · Greek Noun
The sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe, the only true object of saving faith.
epēngeltai · Greek Verb
A formal declaration or covenantal pledge given by God, upon which the believer rests their hope and confidence.
Abraham's faith was forged in the crucible of waiting and immense personal obstacles, directly mirroring the challenges faced by the Israelites throughout their history, from the Exodus to the return from exile. This verse highlights that God's power isn't abstract; it's demonstrated in His consistent, powerful actions throughout Israel's story.
c. 2000 BC
God's Promise to Abraham
God makes a foundational promise to Abraham to make him a great nation and bless the world through him.
c. 1850 BC— this verse
Abraham's Tested Faith
Abraham faces immense personal challenges to his faith, including barrenness of himself and Sarah and later being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers Israel from slavery, demonstrating His power to fulfill promises made generations earlier.
c. 1367 BC
Conquest of Canaan
God enables the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land, showing His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
This passage directly records God's question to Abraham, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' which highlights the very power and promise Abraham's faith rested upon in Romans 4:21.
Hebrews 11:11This verse speaks of Sarah also receiving power to conceive, showing that faith in God's promises, even against natural limitations, is a recurring theme for Abraham and his family.
Philippians 4:13This New Testament passage echoes the sentiment of God's enabling power, stating 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me,' connecting divine ability to the believer's reliance on God.
Jeremiah 32:17The prophet Jeremiah's cry, 'Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you,' parallels Abraham's conviction about God's omnipotence in fulfilling His promises.
Luke 1:37Quoting the angel Gabriel's message to Mary, 'For nothing will be impossible with God,' this verse directly affirms the principle that God's power is supreme and capable of fulfilling His divine plans, just as Abraham believed.
henryRomans 4:13-22: "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."
4:13-22 The promise was made to Abraham long before the law. It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Ge 12:3. In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The law worketh wrath, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure. As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings…
clarkeRomans 4:21: "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
And being fully persuaded - πληροφορηθεις, his measure: his soul was full of confidence, that the truth of God bound him to fulfill his promise and his power enabled him to do it.
Abraham's faith wasn't just about believing God would do it, but that God was mighty enough to do it, no matter how impossible it seemed. This wasn't wishful thinking; it was a deep, active conviction in God's immense power overriding all human limitations and circumstances.
Paul is explaining how Abraham was counted righteous not by works, but by faith. He uses Abraham's story to show that this promise was made to him long before the Law was given, and that his faith rested on God's power to bring about the seemingly impossible. This conviction about God’s ability is presented as the very heart of Abraham's strong faith.
Paul is explaining how Abraham was counted righteous not by works, but by faith. He uses Abraham's story to show that this promise was made to him long before the Law was given, and that his faith rested on God's power to bring about the seemingly impossible. This conviction about God’s ability is presented as the very heart of Abraham's strong faith.
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c. 970 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
Solomon dedicates the First Temple in Jerusalem, a physical manifestation of God's presence among His people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to the exile of most of the Jewish people.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great allows the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, demonstrating God's promise of restoration.
"fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised." — Abraham's faith wasn't just about believing God would do it, but that God was mighty enough to do it, no matter how impossible it seemed. This wasn't wishful thinking; it was a deep, active convi…