Romans 4:21 is part of Paul’s exposition on Abraham’s faith, presented as the model of justification by faith. In verses 18–22, Paul describes Abraham’s unwavering trust in God’s promise despite his old age and Sarah’s barrenness. This particular verse emphasizes the nature of Abraham’s confidence: it was not blind belief, but conviction rooted in God’s power to fulfill what He had promised.
Structural Analysis
καὶ πληροφορηθεὶς
ὅτι ὃ ἐπήγγελται
δυνατός ἐστι καὶ ποιῆσαι.
The sentence is built around a participial construction (πληροφορηθεὶς) followed by a content clause (ὅτι…ἐστι). The subject of the clause is ὃ (“that which”), referring to the divine promise. The predicate describes God’s ability both to promise and to perform.
Semantic Nuances
πληροφορηθείς — aorist passive participle of πληροφορέω, meaning “to be fully convinced,” “to be assured,” or “to be completely persuaded.” The passive form emphasizes Abraham’s internal conviction, possibly produced by the Holy Spirit or divine persuasion.
ὃ ἐπήγγελται — relative clause referring to “that which [God] had promised.” The verb ἐπαγγέλλομαι is in the perfect middle indicative, indicating a promise that has been made and continues to stand.
δυνατός ἐστι — “He is able.” The adjective δυνατός denotes ability, power, and competence. Combined with ποιῆσαι (“to do”), it forms a compound predicate: God is able not just to speak, but to act.
ποιῆσαι — aorist active infinitive of ποιέω, meaning “to do” or “to accomplish.” The aorist infinitive captures the completeness and decisiveness of God’s action.
Syntactical Insight
The participle πληροφορηθείς is adverbial, modifying the implied subject Abraham. It introduces the reason or manner of his unwavering faith described in the previous verse. The ὅτι clause functions as the content of Abraham’s assurance.
The relative pronoun ὃ is neuter singular, referring to the specific promise (most likely the promise of descendants and inheritance in Genesis 15 and 17). The coordination of δυνατός ἐστι καὶ ποιῆσαι balances attribute (ability) with action (performance).
Historical and Cultural Background
In the Greco-Roman world, promises made by deities or rulers were not always reliable. Paul highlights that what distinguishes the God of Israel is not only His promise, but His power to fulfill it. Abraham’s trust stands out because it was grounded in divine omnipotence rather than human probability.
In Jewish tradition, Abraham was praised for his obedience. Paul, however, focuses on his belief — specifically, that he was fully convinced that God could accomplish the impossible.
Intertextuality
- Genesis 15:6: “And he believed the LORD, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
- Luke 1:37: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” — echoing the same theology of divine power.
- Romans 4:17: “God… who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”
These texts reinforce that faith is not mere optimism — it is rooted in God’s nature and ability to keep His word.
Hermeneutical Reflection
Romans 4:21 teaches that biblical faith is not subjective confidence but objective conviction in God’s character. The Greek term πληροφορηθείς implies that Abraham’s heart and mind were fully persuaded — not by signs or feelings, but by the unshakable word and power of God. This faith is not irrational; it is reasonable precisely because of who God is.
Faith That Thinks Clearly
The Greek construction in Romans 4:21 shows a faith that is thoughtful, informed, and focused. πληροφορηθείς — Abraham reasoned and was persuaded. ὃ ἐπήγγελται — the promise was specific. δυνατός…ποιῆσαι — God’s ability matched His word. Paul teaches that trust in God is not blind — it is seeing clearly the One who always finishes what He starts.
