Study Desk

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:6">[fn]

(as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations" Genesis 17:5 ">[fn] ) in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." Genesis 15:5">[fn]

And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:6">[fn]

Genesis 3:1-19">[xr] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--

Genesis 25:19-23">[xr] But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,

nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." Genesis 21:12">[fn]

For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." Genesis 18:10, 14">[fn]

it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." Genesis 25:23">[fn]

Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24">[fn]

And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." Genesis 2:7">[fn] The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:6">[fn]

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:14">[fn]

Genesis 12:1-3">[xr] Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 24:7">[fn] who is Christ.

Genesis 21:8-21; Isaiah 54:1">[xr] Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." Genesis 21:10">[fn]

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24">[fn]

For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works"; Genesis 2:2">[fn]

Genesis 12:1-3">[xr] For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,