hope (as far as nature could give hope), and rested on hope (that God could do what nature could not).” Robertson translates, “Past hope in (upon) hope he trusted.” “Against” is para (παρα), which with the accusative case as it is used here means “beyond.” Abraham’s situation was beyond hope. “In” is epi (ἐπι), “upon.” Yet he based his expectation upon hope. His situation was beyond human hopes, but in spite of that he rested it upon hope in God. The quotation is from Genesis 15:5. “So” is houtōs