1._Now faith, etc. _Whoever made this the beginning of the eleventh chapter, has unwisely disjointed the context; for the object of the Apostle was to prove what he had already said that there is need of patience. (200) He had quoted the testimony of Habakkuk, who says that the just lives by faith;... [ Continue Reading ]
2._For by it the elders, _(203) _etc. _He handles this subject to the end of the chapter — that the fathers obtained salvation and were accepted by God in no other way than by faith. The Jews indeed had some reasons for paying great deference to the fathers; but a foolish admiration of the fathers h... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Through, _or by, _faith we understand, _(205) _etc. _This is a most striking proof of the last verse; for we differ nothing from the brute creation, if we understand not that the world has been created by God. To what end have men been endued with understanding and reason, except that they might... [ Continue Reading ]
4._By faith Abel offered, etc. _The Apostle’s object in this chapter is to show, that however excellent were the works of the saints, it was from faith they derived their value, their worthiness, and all their excellences; and hence follows what he has already intimated, that the fathers pleased God... [ Continue Reading ]
5._By faith Enoch, etc. _He chose a few of the most ancient, that he might make a transition to Abraham and his posterity. He teaches us that through faith, it was that Enoch was translated. But we ought especially to consider the reason why God in so unusual a manner removed him from the earth. The... [ Continue Reading ]
6._But without faith, etc. _What is said here belongs to all the examples which the Apostle records in this chapter; but as there is in the passage some measure of obscurity, it is necessary to examine its meaning more closely. But there is no better interpreter than the Apostle himself. The proof,... [ Continue Reading ]
7._By faith Noah, etc. _It was a wonderful example of magnanimity, that when the whole world were promising themselves impunity, and securely and unrestrainedly indulging themselves in sinful pleasures, Noah alone paid regard to Gods vengeance though deferred for a considerable time, — that he great... [ Continue Reading ]
8._By faith Abraham, etc. _He comes now to Abraham, who is the chief father of God’s church on earth, and in whose name the Jews gloried, as though by the distinction of being the holy race of Abraham alone, they were removed from the common order of men. But he now reminds them of what they ought t... [ Continue Reading ]
9._By faith he sojourned, etc. _The second particular is, that having entered into the land, he was hardly received as a stranger and a sojourner. Where was the inheritance which he had expected? It might have indeed occurred instantly to his mind, that he had been deceived by God. Still greater was... [ Continue Reading ]
10._For he looked for, etc. _He gives a reason why he ascribes their patience to faith, even because they looked forward to heaven. This was indeed to see things invisible. It was no doubt a great thing to cherish in their hearts the assurance given them by God respecting the possession of the land... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Through faith also, Sarah herself, etc. _That women may know that this truth belongs to them as well as to men, he adduces the example of Sarah; which he mentions in preference to that of others, because she was the mother of all the faithful. But it may seem strange that her faith is commended... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Therefore sprang there even of one, etc. _He now also reminds the Jews, that it was by faith that they were the descendants of Abraham; for he was as it were half dead, (220) and Sarah his wife, who had been barren in the flower of her age, was now sterile, being far advanced in years. Sooner th... [ Continue Reading ]
13._These all died in faith, etc. _He enhances by a comparison the faith of the patriarchs: for when they had only tasted of the promises, as though fully satisfied with their sweetness, they despised all that was in the world; and they never forgot the taste of them, however small it was either in... [ Continue Reading ]
15._And truly if they had been mindful, etc. _He anticipates an objection that might have been made, — that they were strangers because they had left their own country. The apostle meets this objection, and says, that though they called themselves strangers, they yet did not think of Mesopotamia; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Wherefore God is not ashamed, etc. _He refers to that passage, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (Exodus 3:6.) It is a singular honor when God makes men illustrious, by attaching his name to them; and designs thus to have himself distinguished from idols. This pr... [ Continue Reading ]
17._By faith Abraham, etc. _He proceeds with the history of Abraham, and relates the offering up of his son; and it was a singular instance of firmness, so that there is hardly another like it to be found. Hence for the sake of enhancing it, he adds, _when he was tempted, _or tried. Abraham had inde... [ Continue Reading ]
19._From whence also, etc. _As though he said, “Nor did hope disappoint Abraham, for it was a sort of resurrection, when his son was so suddenly delivered from the midst of death. The word_figure, _which is here used, is variously explained. I take it simply as meaning likeness; for though Isaac did... [ Continue Reading ]
20._By faith Isaac, etc. _It was also the work of faith to bless as to future things; for when the thing itself does not exist and the word only appears, faith must necessarily bear rule. But first we must notice of what avail is the blessing of which he speaks. For to _bless _often means to pray fo... [ Continue Reading ]
21._By faith Jacob, etc. _It was the Apostle’s object to attribute to faith whatever was worthy of remembrance in the history of the people: as, however, it would have been tedious to recount everything, he selected a few things out of many, such at this. For the tribe of Ephraim was so superior to... [ Continue Reading ]
22._By faith Joseph, etc. _This is the last thing which Moses records respecting the patriarchs, and it deserves to be particularly noticed; for wealth, luxuries, and honors, made not the holy man to forget the promise, nor detained him in Egypt; and this was an evidence of no small faith. For whenc... [ Continue Reading ]
23._By faith Moses, etc. _There have been others, and those heathens, who from no fear of God, but only from a desire of propagating an offspring, preserved their own children at the peril of life; but the Apostle shows that the parents of Moses were inducted to save him for another reason, even for... [ Continue Reading ]
24._By faith Moses, when he was come to years, etc. _The example of Moses ought to have been remembered by the Jews, more than that of any other; for through him they were delivered from bondage, and the covenant of God was renewed, with them, and the constitution of the Church established by the pu... [ Continue Reading ]
26_Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches, etc. _This clause ought to be carefully noticed; for we here learn that we ought to shun as a deadly poison whatever cannot be enjoyed without offending God; for the _pleasures of sin _he calls all the allurements of the world which draw us away fr... [ Continue Reading ]
27._By faith he forsook Egypt, etc. _This may be said of his first as well as of his second departure, that is, when he brought out the people with him. He then indeed left Egypt when he fled from the house of Pharaoh. Add to this, that his going out is recorded by the Apostle before he mentions the... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Through faith he kept the Passover, etc. _This ought to have availed much to commend faith to the Jews; for they held this first sacrifice of the Passover in the highest esteem. But, he says, that it was kept by faith, not because the Paschal lamb was a type of Christ, but because its benefit di... [ Continue Reading ]
29._By faith they passed, etc. _It is certain, that many in that multitude were unbelieving; but the Lord granted to the faith of a few, that the whole multitude should pass through the Red Sea dryshod. But in doing the same thing, there was a great difference between the Israelites and the Egyptia... [ Continue Reading ]
30._By faith the walls of Jericho fell, etc. _As he had before taught us, that the yoke of bondage was by faith broken asunder, so now he tells us, that by the same faith the people gained the possession of the promised land. For at their first entrance the city Jericho stood in their way; it being... [ Continue Reading ]
31._By faith the harlot Rahab, etc. _Though at the first view, this example may seem, on account of the meanness of the person, hardly entitled to notice, and even unworthy of being recorded, yet it was not unsuitably, nor without reason, adduced by the Apostle. He has hitherto shown that the Patria... [ Continue Reading ]
32._And what shall I say more? etc. _As it was to be feared, that by referring to a few examples, he should appear to confine the praises of faith to a few men; he anticipates this, and says, that there would be no end if he was to dwell on every instance; for what he had said of a few extended to t... [ Continue Reading ]
34._Out of weakness were made strong, etc. _Chrysostom refers this to the restoration of the Jews from exile, in which they were like men without hope; I do not disapprove of its applications to Hezekiah. We might at the same time extend it wider, that the Lord, by his hand, raised on high his saint... [ Continue Reading ]
35._Women received, etc. _He had already mentioned instances in which God had remunerated the faith of his servants, he now refers to examples of a different kind, — that saints, reduced to extreme miseries, struggled by faith so as to persevere invincible even to death. These instances at the first... [ Continue Reading ]
38._Of whom the world was not worthy, etc. _As the holy Prophets wandered as fugitives among wild beasts, they might have seemed unworthy of being sustained on the earth; for how was it that they could find no place among men? But the Apostle inverts this sentiment, and says that the world was not w... [ Continue Reading ]
39._And these all, etc. _This is an argument from the less to the greater; for if they on whom the light of grace had not as yet so brightly shone displayed so great a constancy in enduring evils, what ought the full brightness of the Gospel to produce in us? A small spark of light led them to heave... [ Continue Reading ]