Genesis 15:5 (WEB)
The LORD brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.”
Catechism · 3
I Believe
“Because he was "strong in his faith", Abraham became the "father of all who believe".” — Catechism footnote: Rom 4:11, 18; 4:20; cf. Gen 15:5.
The Creator
“Creation is revealed as the first step towards this covenant, the first and universal witness to God's all-powerful love.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 15:5; Jer 33:19-26.
The Church in God's Plan
“The remote preparation for this gathering together of the People of God begins when he calls Abraham and promises that he will become the father of a great people.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 12:2; 15:5-6.
Fathers and councils · 7
Origen
“…voice of the Lord addressed to him, “Look now towards heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be;” and having thus a hope that they would become as the stars of heaven, were not likely to bow down to those objects which they were to resemble as a result of…” — editor's note: Cf. Gen. xv. 5.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“For Matthew the apostle— knowing, as one and the same God, Him who had given promise to Abraham, that He would make his seed as the stars of heaven, and Him who, by His Son Christ Jesus, has called us to the knowledge of Himself, from the worship of stones, so that those who were not a people were made a…” — editor's note: Gen. xv. 5.
Read the whole comment“…might from the stones raise up children unto Abraham, and fulfil the promise which God had given him, and that He might make his seed as the stars of heaven, as John the Baptist says: “For God is able from these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”” — editor's note: Gen. xv. 5.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“…the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him,’ and as God also said to Abraham, that the stars could not be numbered by him; and it is likewise said, ‘Who shall number the grains of sand by the sea-shore, or the drops of rain?’ how then can any one but a madman presume to enquire…” — editor's note: Gen. xv. 5
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John Chrysostom
“How then is it that He often numbers them, although He said, “As the stars of the heaven shall not be numbered, so neither shall your seed”? ( Gen. xv. 5.)” — the author cites it
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Ambrose of Milan
“To them Wisdom showed the heaven illuminated with stars, let it enlighten the eyes of our heart.” — editor's note: Gen. xv. 5.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…yet because of the abundance of the good also, and because of him to whom it was said, “Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven, and as the sand of the sea;” is that also written, “Many shall come from the East and West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, in the kingdom of God.”” — editor's note: Gen. xv. 5 and xxii. 17.
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Cross-references · 14
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Catechism §146.
Cited together in Catechism §146.
Cited together in Catechism §146.
Cited together in Catechism §146.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cited together in Catechism §146.
Cited together in Against Celsus V.10.
Cross-reference given by the World English Bible's translators.