What does it mean that Abraham grew strong in his faith?

Explanation:

When Paul writes that Abraham was strengthened in faith, he uses the passive form of the verb to strengthen. That suggests that Paul has in mind that God strengthened Abraham’s faith. This is Paul’s likely meaning because he uses the passive form of the verb elsewhere when he has in mind God giving faith. ³ In particular, Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians that he can do all things through him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). The one who strengthens Paul is God. Given that Paul uses the same passive form of the verb in Romans 4:12, Paul likely has in mind that God is the one who strengthened Abraham’s faith.

Counterargument:

That Paul uses the passive form of the verb to strengthen in other places to mean that God is the one who does the empowering is not enough to show that this is how Paul uses the verb in Romans 4:13. For Paul also uses the passive form in other passages where he does not have in mind that God does the empowering. For example, in Ephesians 6:10 Paul calls on the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord. There, Paul uses the passive form of the verb to strengthen to denote defending oneself against spiritual opposition.⁴ Of course, to defend oneself is to use one’s strength to accomplish something, not for God to strengthen.

Response to counterargument:

There are two responses to this counterargument. First, that Paul uses the passive form of to strengthen elsewhere to mean by one’s own strength, rather than God strengthening, does not undermine this argument. For the argument is not that Paul only uses the passive form of the verb to strengthen to mean God’s empowering, but that he does so in Philippians 4:13, and he might do the same in Romans 4:20. Second, arguably Ephesians 6:10 is another example where Paul uses the passive form of to strengthen in the sense of God-given strength, which would imply that Ephesians 6:10 actually supports the argument. For in Ephesians 6:10, Paul calls the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord. In other words, rely on the strength the Lord provides in order to fight your spiritual battle.

Explanation:

We can understand what Paul means when he writes that Abraham grew strong in the faith, by noting that the passive verb to strengthen is often used in the Septuagint and New Testament in contexts where God gives people the ability to do something. For example, we find this use of the verb in 1 Timothy 1:12, Ephesians 6:10, Philippians 4:13, 2 Timothy 4:17, and 2 Timothy 2:1. ⁵ Given that the verb is used to denote God giving people the ability to do something in all of these circumstances, likely Paul has the same thought in mind in Romans 4:13.

Counterargument:

We need to consider the context in which a verb is used to determine its meaning. Interestingly, when Paul uses the verb to denote God giving him strength, he often points this out. For example, in 1 Timothy 1:12 Paul specifically identifies Jesus Christ as the one who strengthens him. And in 2 Timothy 2:1 Paul calls on Timothy to be strengthened by the grace of Jesus Christ. Further, in 2 Timothy 4:17, Paul writes that the Lord strengthened him. Now, when we look to the context of Romans 4:20, we do not find Paul specifically pointing out that either the Father or Jesus Christ strengthened Abraham’s faith. Rather, we simply read that Abraham’s faith was strengthened. Thus, it is not clear whether the Father or Jesus Christ strengthened Abraham’s faith, or whether his faith was strengthened because he believed God.

Response to counterargument:

That Paul often points out when God is the one giving him strength does not mean that when Paul does not point this out, he does not have in mind God giving the strength. That Paul often clearly uses the verb elsewhere to denote the fact that God gives the strength, along with the fact that the verb is in the passive form, is enough to affirm that God is the one who strengthens Abraham’s faith.

The weakness of this view is that it does not consider the plain meaning of the text, which is that by believing God, Abraham’s faith grew stronger. The text does not mention God making the faith grow stronger; it only says that the faith did in fact grow strong.

Explanation:

Paul writes that Abraham grew in his faith. What he means is that by overcoming temptation, the strength of Abraham’s faith grew stronger. We can detect that this is what Paul means because he seems to be making a contrast between disbelief and growing in faith. For Paul opens Romans 4:20 by stating that Abraham refused to waver in his faith. Of course, the contrast to wavering in faith is actually growing stronger in faith, which is what happened to Abraham for his belief in God.⁸ In other words, Paul is making the contrasting point that Abraham did not waver in his belief; in fact, he grew in his belief.

Counterargument:

The problem with this argument is that it overlooks the passive voice of the verb to strengthen. For the passive voice tells us that the strengthening of the faith happened to Abraham, not that this is something Abraham did. That is, according to this view, by believing God, Abraham strengthened his faith, but this goes against the passive voice that suggests that the strengthening was not the result of Abraham’s effort, but happened to Abraham.

Response to counterargument:

This argument does not undermine the passive voice. The argument is not that Abraham made an effort to strengthen his own faith, but that Abraham believed God against the odds, and the consequence of believing God against the odds is that Abraham’s faith ends up becoming stronger. Abraham’s effort was to resist the temptation to disbelieve God, and the passive outcome was the strengthening of his faith.

Explanation:

When we consider what it means that Abraham’s faith was strengthened in light of Romans 4:19, we can see that Paul means that by believing God, the faith of Abraham grew stronger. We can detect this is what he means because he writes in Romans 4:19 that Abraham did not weaken in faith. That is the opposite of growing stronger in faith, and this is Paul’s point. ⁹ Now, when Paul says that Abraham did not weaken in faith, he says that Abraham did not weaken when he considered his body, which was as good as dead. In other words, even though Abraham recognized his body was not fit for having children, he resisted the temptation of disbelief, holding fast to God’s promises. And not only did Abraham resist weakening in the faith, but by resisting disbelief, his faith actually grew stronger.

Counterargument:

The problem with this argument is that it overlooks the theological theme of this section. Paul has been saying that Abraham brought nothing to his relationship with God. Rather, all Abraham could do is accept and rely on the promises of God. In other words, Abraham does not have the capacity to make his faith grow because he brings nothing to his relationship with God.¹⁰ Of course, Abraham’s faith was strengthened, so it must have been God who strengthened it. Thus, Paul is saying that God strengthened Abraham’s faith.

Response to counterargument:

Abraham’s believing God so that his faith was strengthened does not go against the themes of this section. Rather, Paul’s most important theme in this section is that one is saved not by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul explicitly notes that Abraham was not justified before God because of works, but because he believed God (Romans 4:2–5). Relatedly, Paul is saying in Romans 4:19–20 that Abraham believed God, and because of this, his faith was strengthened. We already know from Paul that one is able to earn anything before God, so the fact that Abraham grew in faith does not somehow imply that he brings something to his relationship with God. Rather, as Paul has already made clear, faith is in contrast with works, and now he explains that by believing God, that faith that is in contrast with works, grows stronger.

The only weakness of this view is that the verb to strengthen is in the passive voice, which is used by Paul in various passages to denote God strengthening.