Romans 4:18 Meaning: Believing Against Hope
Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Who, against hope in hope did believe, for his becoming father of many nations according to that spoken: `So shall thy seed be;'
who against hope believed in hope to his becoming father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be:
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to believe against hope? Romans 4:18 shows Abraham trusting God's promise when circumstances said no.
Context
Paul has been building a case that Abraham was made right with God by faith, not by keeping the law. In the verses just before this one, he says Abraham believed in the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist. Now he shows what that belief looked like in real life. Abraham was about a hundred years old; Sarah was barren. By every natural measure, having a child was impossible. Yet God had promised him descendants as countless as the stars. This verse captures the choice Abraham faced: whether to believe what his eyes saw or what God had said.
Key Words
The word hope appears twice in the Greek, but the two uses point in opposite directions. The first hope comes with the preposition para, meaning “against.” It refers to any human reason for expecting good, and Abraham had none. The second hope comes with epi, meaning “on the basis of.” That is the object of hope itself, the promise God gave him. So Abraham had no foundation for hope in his circumstances, but he had every foundation in God’s word. The verb believed is the same one Paul uses throughout the chapter for saving faith. It is not optimism or wishful thinking. It is a deliberate act of trust, placed in a specific promise from a faithful God.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen in this verse a defining picture of faith. Calvin, writing in the Reformed tradition, said that true faith must “fly upward on celestial wings” above everything the flesh can perceive. Wesley, from the Methodist tradition, described it simply as believing “against all probability.” Catholic interpreters have noted that Abraham’s hope was not a vague feeling but a firm reliance on God’s faithfulness. What all agree on is this: faith does not pretend the evidence is absent. It looks beyond that evidence to the God who made the promise.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Paul means Abraham had no hope at all, or that he acted against any hope God gives. In fact, “against hope” describes the human situation: all natural signs were hopeless. “In hope” points to the promise itself. Abraham did have hope, the hope God had given him. He was not abandoned to despair; he was anchored in what God had spoken.
Living This Out
This week you may face a situation where the evidence says no: a relationship that seems beyond repair, a prayer that has gone unanswered for years, a dream that feels dead. Abraham shows a different way. You do not have to pretend the evidence is not there. But you can hold it alongside a promise God has given you, a specific word from Scripture you can stand on. Start each day by naming that promise. Then carry it with you through whatever the hours bring.
Main takeaway: Faith trusts God's promise even when every natural sign says it is impossible.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Abraham was very old, and God promised him a baby. It seemed impossible, but Abraham believed God anyway. God always keeps His promises.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine waiting for something that seems impossible. That was Abraham. He had no reason to hope from what he could see, but he had every reason to hope from what God had said. That is faith: trusting God’s word more than your eyes. God kept his promise to Abraham, and he will keep his promises to you too.
Questions People Ask
What does 'against hope believed in hope' mean?
It means Abraham had no natural reason to expect a child, his body was old, Sarah’s womb was dead. But he still trusted the promise God had made. So he believed 'against' all human hope, but 'in' the hope that came from God’s word.
How old was Abraham in Romans 4:18?
The passage says he was about a hundred years old (Romans 4:19). By that age, having a child seemed impossible. That is why Paul uses Abraham as the prime example of faith that trusts God despite appearances.
Does 'father of many nations' mean only the Jewish people?
No. In Romans 4, Paul argues that Abraham is the father of all who believe, whether Jewish or not. The promise that his offspring would be like the stars (Genesis 15:5) included people from every nation who share his faith.
How does Romans 4:18 connect to justification by faith?
Paul uses Abraham’s faith as a pattern. Just as Abraham trusted God’s promise and was counted righteous, everyone who trusts in Christ, not in their own works, is made right with God. This verse shows that real faith holds onto God’s promise even when circumstances say otherwise.
What is the 'promise' Paul refers to here?
The promise comes from Genesis 15:5, where God tells Abraham his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. That promise seemed impossible given Abraham's age, but he believed it anyway. Paul quotes it to show that faith rests on God’s word, not on visible evidence.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study