Romans 4:19

Romans 4:19 kateno,hsen {C}

Curiously enough, each of the two readings, one positive and one negative, gives good sense: (a) kateno,hsen (a A B C 81 1739 vg syr^p cop^{sa, bo, fay} arm al) means, “His faith did not weaken when he considered …,” and (b) ouv kateno,hsen (D G K P Y 33 Byz Lect it^{d, g} syr^h al) means, “He was so strong in faith that he did not consider …” Whereas reading (b), like many other readings of Western origin, appears at first to be preferable, after further reflection it reveals itself to be less appropriate in the context: here Paul does not wish to imply that faith means closing one’s eyes to reality, but that Abraham was so strong in faith as to be undaunted by every consideration.