Romans 4

Isaac, the son of promise from the dead

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Romans 4:17–21

Abraham trusted that God could bring life out of death, giving him a promised son from bodies that were 'dead.' Paul immediately applies this to believing in the God who raised Jesus from the dead (v. 24), so Isaac's miraculous birth echoes the Resurrection.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a type of what is in Romans 4:24 — Paul explicitly sets Abraham's faith in the life-giving God beside faith in Him who raised Jesus.
• alludes to Hebrews 11:17-19 — Abraham accounted God able to raise Isaac from the dead, and received him back in a figure.

Delivered for our offences, raised for our justification

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Lord — Master, the divine title

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Romans 4:24–25

The Father raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins and rose again so we could be made right with God. His death and Resurrection together are the heart of the gospel.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 53:5 — Wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.
• alludes to Isaiah 53:12 — He bare the sin of many; 'delivered' echoes the Servant handed over to death.
• the same event in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 — Christ died for our sins and rose again the third day.