The definition of faith given in this verse, and exemplified in the various instances following, undoubtedly includes justifying faith, but not directly as justifying. For faith justifies only as it refers to, and depends on, Christ. But here is no mention of him as the object of faith; and in sever... [ Continue Reading ]
By it the elders — Our forefathers. This chapter is a kind of summary of the Old Testament, in which the apostle comprises the designs, labours, sojournings, expectations, temptations, martyrdoms of the ancients. The former of them had a long exercise of their patience; the latter suffered shorter b... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith we understand that the worlds — Heaven and earth and all things in them, visible and invisible. Where made — Formed, fashioned, and finished. By the word — The sole command of God, without any instrument or preceding matter. And as creation is the foundation and specimen of the whole divine... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith — In the future Redeemer. Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice — The firstlings of his flock, implying both a confession of what his own sins deserved, and a desire of sharing in the great atonement. Than Cain — Whose offering testified no such faith, but a bare acknowledgment of God the... [ Continue Reading ]
Enoch was not any longer found among men, though perhaps they sought for him as they did for Elijah, 2 Kings 2:17. He had this testimony — From God in his own conscience.... [ Continue Reading ]
But without faith — Even some divine faith in God, it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God — in prayer, or another act of worship, must believe that he is.... [ Continue Reading ]
Noah being warned of things not seen as yet — Of the future deluge. Moved with fear, prepared an ark, by which open testimony he condemned the world — Who neither believed nor feared.... [ Continue Reading ]
Genesis 12:1, Genesis 12:4... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise — The promise was made before, Genesis 12:7. Dwelling in tents — As a sojourner With Isaac and Jacob — Who by the same manner of living showed the same faith Jacob was born fifteen years before the death of Abraham. The joint heirs of the same promise — H... [ Continue Reading ]
He looked for a city which hath foundations — Whereas a tent has none. Whose builder and former is God — Of which God is the sole contriver, former, and finisher.... [ Continue Reading ]
Sarah also herself — Though at first she laughed at the promise, Genesis 18:12. Genesis 21:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
As it were dead — Till his strength was supernaturally restored, which continued for many years after.... [ Continue Reading ]
All these — — Mentioned Hebrews 11:7. Died in faith — In death faith acts most vigorously. Not having received the promises — The promised blessings. Embraced — As one does a dear friend when he meets him.... [ Continue Reading ]
They who speak thus show plainly that they seek their own country — That they keep in view, and long for, their native home.... [ Continue Reading ]
If they had been mindful of — Their earthly country, Ur of the Chaldeans, they might have easily returned.... [ Continue Reading ]
But they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly — This is a full convincing proof that the patriarchs had a revelation and a promise of eternal glory in heaven. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: seeing he hath prepared for them a city — Worthy of God to give.... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith Abraham — When God made that glorious trial of him. Offered up Isaac — The will being accepted as if he had actually done it. Yea, he that had received the promises — Particularly that grand promise, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." Offered up — This very son; the only one he had by Sar... [ Continue Reading ]
In Isaac shall thy seed be called — From him shall the blessed seed spring. Genesis 21:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Accounting that God was able even to raise him from the dead — Though there had not been any instance of this in the world. From whence also — To speak in a figurative way. He did receive him — Afterwards, snatched from the jaws of death.... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed — Genesis 27:27, Genesis 27:39; prophetically foretold the particular blessings they should partake of. Jacob and Esau — Preferring the elder before the younger.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jacob when dying — That is, when near death. Bowing down on the top of his staff — As he sat on the side of his bed. Genesis 48:16; Genesis 47:31... [ Continue Reading ]
Concerning his bones — To be carried into the land of promise.... [ Continue Reading ]
They saw — Doubtless with a divine presage of things to come.... [ Continue Reading ]
Refused to be called — Any longer.... [ Continue Reading ]
The reproach of Christ — That which he bore for believing in the Messiah to come, and acting accordingly. For he looked off — From all those perishing treasures, and beyond all those temporal hardships Unto the recompence of reward — Not to an inheritance in Canaan; he had no warrant from God to loo... [ Continue Reading ]
By faith he left Egypt — Taking all the Israelites with him. Not then fearing the wrath of the king — As he did many years before, Exodus 2:14. Exodus 14:15, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
The pouring out of the blood — Of the paschal lamb, which was sprinkled on the door — posts, lest the destroying angel should touch the Israelites. Exodus 12:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
They — Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites. Passed the Red Sea — It washed the borders of Edom, which signifies red. Thus far the examples are cited from Genesis and Exodus; those that follow are from the former and the latter Prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
By the faith of Joshua.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rahab — Though formerly one not of the fairest character.... [ Continue Reading ]
After Samuel, the prophets are properly mentioned. David also was a prophet; but he was a king too. The prophets — Elijah, Elisha, &c., including likewise the believers who lived with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
David, in particular, subdued kingdoms. Samuel (not excluding the rest) wrought righteousness. The prophets, in general, obtained promises, both for themselves, and to deliver to others. Prophets also stopped the mouths of lions, as Daniel; and quenched the violence of fire, as Shadrach, Meshach, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Women — Naturally weak. Received their dead — Children. Others were tortured — From those who acted great things the apostle rises higher, to those who showed the power of faith by suffering. Not accepting deliverance — On sinful terms. That they might obtain a better resurrection — An higher reward... [ Continue Reading ]
And others — The apostle seems here to pass on to recent examples.... [ Continue Reading ]
They were sawn asunder — As, according to the tradition of the Jews, Isaiah was by Manasseh. Were tempted — Torments and death are mentioned alternately. Every way; by threatenings, reproaches, tortures, the variety of which cannot be expressed; and again by promises and allurements.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of whom the world was not worthy — It did not deserve so great a blessing. They wandered — Being driven out from men.... [ Continue Reading ]
And all these — Though they obtained a good testimony, Hebrews 11:2, yet did not receive the great promise, the heavenly inheritance.... [ Continue Reading ]
God having provided some better thing for us — Namely, everlasting glory. That they might not be perfected without us — That is, that we might all be perfected together in heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]