Romans 4:20 Commentary: Strengthened in Faith, Glorifying God

Romans 4 is Paul's sustained argument that justification comes through faith, not by works of the law. He uses Abraham as the prime example because Jewish tradition revered Abraham as the father of the nation, the one who kept the law before it was given, and the recipient of the covenant sign of circumcision. Paul deliberately shows that Abraham was justified by faith while still uncircumcised, making him the father of all believers, both Jew and Gentile.

In verse 20, Paul describes the kind of faith Abraham exercised. The context of verses 17, 21 paints a vivid picture: Abraham was about a hundred years old, his body “worn out,” and Sarah’s womb was dead. The promise of a son seemed physically impossible. Yet Abraham looked “to the promise of God” (verse 20) rather than to his own circumstances. The Greek verb enedunamōthē (“was strengthened”) is in the passive voice, indicating that God Himself strengthened Abraham’s faith. This strengthening happened through faith, faith was the channel, not the source, of the power.

In the ancient world, “giving glory” was a concrete act. To give glory to a deity meant to acknowledge that deity’s power, faithfulness, and worth. Barnes explains that Abraham “gave honor to God by the firmness with which he believed his promises.” In a culture where honor and shame shaped social relationships, this act of trusting God’s word in the face of overwhelming odds was a public testimony that God is true. Paul’s point is that faith itself is a doxological act: it declares that God is who He says He is and will do what He has promised.

The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Romans 4:20. The manuscript evidence is stable, and translations uniformly render the Greek in the same sense. The reading διεκρίθη (aorist passive of διακρίνω) is well attested, and the alternative reading suggested by Calvin (interpreting it as “disputed” rather than “doubted”) is a matter of lexical semantics, not textual variation.

Romans 4:20 has been central to Christian teaching on faith from the early church onward. The Reformers, especially Luther and Calvin, cited this verse to argue that justifying faith is not mere intellectual assent but confident trust that honors God. In the Reformed tradition, the phrase “giving glory to God” became a key description of faith as an act of worship. Later evangelical revivalists, such as John Wesley, pointed to this verse to show that faith is not static but grows stronger through trials. The verse appears frequently in hymns about trusting God’s promises, especially in times of suffering or barrenness. Across denominations, it remains a touchstone for the idea that faith itself praises God, regardless of visible outcomes.

Three-point outline

1. What faith does not do: It does not waver at the promise of God. The Greek verb diekrithē suggests an internal struggle or division, but Abraham did not let that struggle control him. He did not let the physical impossibility override the divine word.
2. What faith receives: Abraham “was strengthened” in faith. The passive verb shows that the strength came from God. Faith is not a human effort we produce; it is a gift that God sustains.
3. What faith gives: By believing, Abraham “gave glory to God.” He honored God’s character, His truthfulness, power, and grace. Every act of trust is an act of worship.

Five-point outline

1. Looking to the promise, not to the obstacle (v. 19, 20a).
2. No wavering through unbelief (v. 20b).
3. Growing strong through faith (v. 20c).
4. Giving glory to God (v. 20d).
5. Being fully persuaded of God’s ability (v. 21).

Illustration hooks

• A marathon runner who ignores the burning in his legs and fixes his eyes on the finish line. The pain is real, but the goal is more real.
• A parent trusting a surgeon’s promise that a risky operation will save a child. The trust does not remove the anxiety, but it honors the surgeon’s skill and character.
• A farmer planting seeds in dry ground, believing that rain will come. The act of planting is itself a statement of trust in the promise of harvest.

Questions your congregation is asking

• “I struggle with doubt. Does that mean my faith is weak or that I am not saved?”
• “How can I ‘give glory to God’ when I feel like my circumstances are falling apart?”
• “Does this verse mean I should never question God or ask honest questions?”

This passage shows us the inner dynamics of faith: it is not blind optimism but a deliberate choice to trust God’s word more than visible obstacles. Abraham’s example invites us to examine where we fix our attention when our situation seems hopeless.

Discussion questions

1. Read Romans 4:19, 21. What specific obstacles did Abraham face? Why did Paul mention them in such detail?
2. The Greek verb for “waver” (diekrithē) implies a mental struggle or division. What kinds of internal struggles do you face when God’s promises seem slow or impossible?
3. Verse 20 says Abraham “grew strong through faith.” How does faith itself become a source of strength? What does that tell us about the nature of faith?
4. How does giving glory to God differ from simply saying “Praise God” when things go well? In what ways did Abraham’s trust actually honor God?
5. Calvin notes that Abraham asked “How can this be?” without unbelief, while the wicked scoff. How can we distinguish between honest wonder and doubting unbelief?
6. Paul uses Abraham to argue that justification is by faith. How does this verse strengthen that argument? What does it show about the kind of faith God accepts?
7. Think of a promise from Scripture that seems hard to believe in your current circumstances. How might “looking to the promise” change the way you pray this week?