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Romans 4:20

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

KJV

εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ ἀλλ’ ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει, δοὺς δόξαν τῷ θεῷ

Greek NT

In repromissione etiam Dei non hæsitavit diffidentia, sed confortatus est fide, dans gloriam Deo :

Vulgate

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

ASV

In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust: but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God:

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

13 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
δίδωμι
didomi
verb · 414×
διακρίνω
diakrino
verb · 19×
δόξα
doxa
noun · 166×
εἰς
eis
preposition · 1769×
θεός
theos
noun · 1311×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
πίστις
pistis
noun · 243×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἀπιστία
apistia
noun · 11×
ἐνδυναμόω
endunamoo
verb · 7×
ἐπαγγελία
epaggelia
noun · 52×
o
article · 19778×

Themes

Historic Christian voices

7 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§146Abraham thus fulfils the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen":7 "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."8 Because he was "strong in his faith", Abraham became the "father of all who believe".9
§706Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.68 In Abraham's progeny all the nations of the earth will be blessed. This progeny will be Christ himself,69 in whom the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will "gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad."70 God commits himself by his own solemn o…
§723In Mary, the Holy Spirit fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. With and through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin conceives and gives birth to the Son of God. By the Holy Spirit's power and her faith, her virginity became uniquely fruitful.105
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210208.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
What shall we say then that Abraham our father hath found? Paul proves from Abraham and David that justification has always been by faith, not works. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness — before circumcision, not after. Therefore Abraham is the father of all who believe, whether circumcised or uncircumcised. Faith was imputed to Abraham for righteou…

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 16:13 — Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
  • 1Sam 30:6 — And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the
  • 2Chr 20:15 — And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the batt
  • 2Cor 12:10 — Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
  • 2Kgs 7:2 — Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine ey
  • 2Kgs 7:19 — And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not ea
  • 2Tim 2:1 — Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
  • Acts 27:25 — Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
  • Dan 10:19 — And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me
  • Dan 11:32 — And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
  • Eph 6:10 — Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
  • Gen 15:6 — And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
  • Hag 2:4 — Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith
  • Heb 11:11 — Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
  • Isa 7:9 — And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
  • Isa 35:4 — Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
  • Jer 32:16 — Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,
  • John 4:50 — Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
  • Luke 1:18 — And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
  • Luke 1:38 — And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
  • Luke 1:45 — And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
  • Matt 8:26 — And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
  • Matt 9:8 — But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
  • Num 11:13 — Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
  • Rom 3:22 — Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
  • Rom 4:19 — And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
  • Rom 15:1 — We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
  • Zech 8:6 — Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
  • Zech 8:9 — Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts
  • Zech 8:13 — And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.