The KJV translates this phrase as "calleth those things which be not as though
they were." NASB translates the same phrase as "calls into being that which does
not exist."
There seem to be three possible interpretations of this verse:
1. God called non-existent things into being. This interpretation assumes
KALOUNTOS refers to God, that it is being used in the sense of "summoned", and
that WS is being used in the sense of "with the result that", as in Mt. 12:12 'a
great storm took place on the lake SO THAT (WS) the boat was covered with the
waves'.
2. God spoke of things not in existence as though they already existed. Can
"kalountos..ws" mean "speaks of as though?
3. Abraham spoke of things not in existence as though they already existed. Can
KALOUNTOS refer to Abraham in this context?
Here's the Greek:
Roma 4:17 (GNT) kaqws gegraptai oti Patera pollwn eqnwn teqeika se katenanti ou
episteusen qeou tou zwopoiountos tous nekrous kai kalountos ta mh onta ws onta
Thanks!
Jonathan
(Is Graeculus Esuriens anything like Anorexia Nervosa?)