Romans 4 Promise

[mikew]

Until recently the mention of the "promise" in Rom 4:13-18 appeared to be added only as an idea to describe faith. Now the promise as a distinct topic from "faith" has become clear.

Paul made a distinct mention of the promise because without the promise of God faith is toward a subjective unclear goal. But here, in Romans 4 there was a need to show that the Gentile believers had a specific promise, that of being heirs of the world, to look forward to. By inclusion of a specific promise, Paul's argument became much more convincing.

There was a sequence in Paul's argument to calm the Roman believers in the midst of persecution (Rom 5:3). It goes as follows:
1. Show the Gentiles that they are included as a descendant of Abraham.
2. Describe the promise to Abraham and show that such promise applies to the Romans too.
3. Present the ideas of faith that give substance to the promise now held by the believers too
4. Show that Abraham too had to endure in faith despite the circumstances
5. Their faith combined with the promise would help the believers endure the persecutions.

Having seen the sequence of Paul's argument, the context of Romans became clearer. The passage becomes more than a series of interesting thoughts about Abraham.

[darinhouston]

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”

[mikew]

Was that response a clarification or an indication of agreement or did you disagree?

You seem to be focusing on Paul's emphasis of the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. This is one stream of thought of Paul that is mixed in with the efforts of Paul to show that the Romans too were included in being heirs of the world, and that their faith included access to that promise.

[darinhouston]

Nothing meant - haven't even read it closely yet and was just adding the reference to facilitate discussion.