Romans 4:21 kjv
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 4:21 nkjv
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Romans 4:21 niv
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:21 esv
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:21 nlt
He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
Romans 4 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 15:6 | And he believed the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. | Abraham's foundational faith and imputation of righteousness. |
| Heb 11:6 | But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is... | Essentiality of believing in God's existence and character. |
| Rom 4:18 | Who against hope believed in hope... | Abraham's faith against human impossibilities. |
| Rom 4:20 | He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief... | Emphasizes the unwavering nature of Abraham's conviction. |
| Gen 18:14 | Is any thing too hard for the LORD? | God's rhetorical question underscoring His omnipotence. |
| Jer 32:17 | Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power... | Acknowledges God's supreme power and ability. |
| Lk 1:37 | For with God nothing shall be impossible. | Confirms God's absolute capability to do the impossible. |
| Mt 19:26 | With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. | Contrasts human limits with God's unlimited power. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent... | God's unchangeable faithfulness to His word. |
| 1 Thes 5:24 | Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. | God's faithfulness guarantees His completion of His work. |
| Php 1:6 | Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it... | Assurance in God's power to complete His work in believers. |
| 2 Tim 1:12 | For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed... | Paul's personal conviction in God's keeping power. |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void... | God's word unfailingly achieves its intended purpose. |
| Psa 33:4 | For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. | God's integrity and truthfulness in all He does. |
| Psa 89:34 | My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. | God's immutable commitment to His promises. |
| Heb 10:23 | Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. | Encouragement to steadfastness, based on God's faithfulness. |
| Eph 3:20 | Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think... | God's power extends beyond human comprehension or request. |
| Jas 1:6-7 | But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering... | Condemns wavering faith and encourages steadfast trust. |
| 1 Kgs 8:56 | Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised... | Example of God fulfilling His promises historically. |
| Gen 12:2-3 | And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee... | The foundational promises given to Abraham. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God... | God's ability to orchestrate all circumstances for His good purposes. |
| Tit 1:2 | In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. | God's inability to lie underpins the certainty of His promises. |
| Heb 6:18 | That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation... | Reinforces God's truthfulness as the ground for assurance. |
Romans 4 verses
Romans 4 21 Meaning
Romans 4:21 states that Abraham was absolutely convinced that God had the power to fulfill all the promises He had made. This verse encapsulates the profound nature of Abraham's faith: it was a complete and unwavering certainty, not in his own ability or favorable circumstances, but solely in God's omnipotent capability to bring about His pledged word. His conviction recognized God as inherently powerful and faithful to accomplish what seemed humanly impossible.
Romans 4 21 Context
Romans chapter 4 is pivotal in Paul's argument for justification by faith, distinct from works of the Law or circumcision. Paul presents Abraham as the prime example. Despite receiving the covenant of circumcision and later the Law through Moses, Abraham was counted righteous before these—purely on the basis of his faith (Gen 15:6). Paul emphasizes that Abraham's faith was not a belief in his own or Sarah's natural ability, but a complete trust in God's power to bring forth an heir from a barren couple (Rom 4:18-19). Verse 21, therefore, serves as the triumphant climax of this explanation of Abraham's faith, clarifying its character: an unshakeable conviction in God's infinite power and integrity to fulfill His seemingly impossible promises. This sets the pattern for how both Jews and Gentiles are justified: by believing in God who raises the dead and gives life, just as He did for Abraham and for Christ.
Romans 4 21 Word analysis
- And (καί - kai): A simple conjunction connecting this profound statement about Abraham's faith to the previous verses (Rom 4:19-20) which described his unwavering posture. It emphasizes that this complete persuasion was the natural culmination or character of his faith, not an afterthought.
- being fully persuaded (πληροφορηθεὶς - plērophorētheis): This is a perfect passive participle of the verb πληρο̄φορέω (plērophoreō), meaning "to be fully assured," "to be completely convinced," or "to have full conviction." The root implies "carrying something through to the full" (πλήρης - full; φέρω - to carry/bear). It conveys an active and internal certainty that fills one's mind entirely, leaving no room for doubt or vacillation. It's a deep-seated, settled conviction, not a fleeting feeling. The passive voice suggests that this assurance was wrought in Abraham, perhaps by the Holy Spirit's testimony, confirming the divine origin and nature of such faith.
- that what He had promised (ὅτι ὃ ἐπήγγελται - hoti ho epēngeltai): "That what" refers to the specific promises made by God to Abraham, primarily concerning an innumerable offspring and the promised heir (Gen 12:2; 15:5; 17:5-6). The perfect tense of ἐπήγγελται (epēngeltai), "He had promised," indicates a completed action in the past with continuing validity and effect. God's promise was not transient; it remained binding and effective, serving as the solid ground for Abraham's faith.
- He was also able (δυνατὸς καὶ ἔστιν - dynatos kai estin): Literally "able also He is." "δυνατός" (dynatos) signifies God's inherent capacity, His power, and His might. This word underscores that the object of Abraham's conviction was God's absolute ability to perform. His faith wasn't in "what" God would do, but in the divine "Who" who could and would do it. The present tense "ἔστιν" (estin - "He is") stresses God's enduring, present power, emphasizing that God's power is always active and readily available to fulfill His Word.
- to perform (ποιῆσαι - poiēsai): This is an aorist infinitive meaning "to do," "to make," or "to carry out." It signifies the actualization or execution of the divine promise. Abraham's faith culminated in believing that God would translate His spoken word into tangible reality.
Words-Group Analysis:The phrase "fully persuaded that what He had promised He was also able to perform" defines the core of Abrahamic faith. It is not a blind hope or a vague belief in a distant deity, but a specific and deeply settled conviction in the active, personal, and competent power of God to actualize His own divine word. This highlights that true faith recognizes the absolute sovereignty and limitless capability of God, resting entirely on His character and strength rather than on human reason, potential, or circumstances. It is a faith that honors God by acknowledging His omnipotence and faithfulness above all else.
Romans 4 21 Bonus section
The active "full persuasion" described here (πληροφορηθεὶς) is intrinsically linked to the glorification of God mentioned in the following verse (Rom 4:20-21). Abraham's faith didn't just passively "believe" but actively recognized and esteemed God's power, thereby giving glory to Him. This indicates that the depth of our faith, especially when faced with human impossibilities, directly correlates with how much glory we bring to God. Furthermore, the term "fully persuaded" suggests a continuous, active process, not a one-time event. While justification is a one-time act of God based on an initial belief, the life of faith is a continuous act of resting in God's power to complete what He has promised, leading to spiritual maturity and resilience. This kind of faith trusts in God's dynamic power, not merely His static existence.
Romans 4 21 Commentary
Romans 4:21 profoundly illustrates the nature of genuine faith as demonstrated by Abraham. It was not a weak or tentative belief, but a "full persuasion," a robust, deep-seated conviction that allowed no room for doubt concerning God's capability. Abraham's circumstances were naturally impossible for childbearing, yet his focus remained fixed not on his limitations, but on God's limitless power. He believed that the One who made the promise was perfectly able, by His very nature, to bring it to pass. This unwavering trust glorified God because it acknowledged His sovereignty, omnipotence, and absolute truthfulness. It serves as a foundational example for all believers, demonstrating that saving faith looks away from self and circumstances and rests completely on God's infinite ability to do what He says.