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Rom 4:17.[47] Ὅτι-ΤΈΘΕΙΚΆ ΣΕ) so the LXX., Gen 17:5. The construction, ΤΈΘΕΙΚΆ ΣΕ, ΚΑΤΈΝΑΝΤΙ-ΘΕΟ͂Υ, is like the following, ἽΥΑ ΕἸΔῆΤΕ, ἎΡΟΝ, Mat 9:6. Comp. Rom 15:3; Act 1:4.-ΚΑΤΈΝΑΝΤΙ-ΘΕΟ͂Υ, before God) since those nations did not yet exist before men.-οὗ), that is, ΚΑΤΈΝΑΝΤΙ ΘΕΟ͂Υ, ᾯ ἘΠΊΣΤΕΥΣΕ, before God, in whom he believed.-ζωοποιοῦντος, quickening) Heb 11:19, notes. The dead are not dead to God, and things which be not, are to God.-καλο͂υντος, calling) The seed of Abraham did not yet exist, nevertheless God said, So shall thy seed be. The multiplication of the seed presupposes the previous existence of the seed. For example, the centurion says to his servant, who was living and moving in the natural course of the world, Do this; but God says to the light, whilst it is not in existence, just as if it were, Come forth, γενοῦ, come into existence. Think of that often recurring and wonderful יהי, Genesis 1, it expresses the transition from non-existence to existence, which is produced by God calling, Eze 36:29.
[47] πατὴρ πάντων ἡμῶν, father of us all). Hence it is, that although Christ is said to be the Son of David, yet believers are not called the sons of David, but of Abraham.-V. g.