Hebrews 11:2

That the description which he hath given of faith, and the efficacy which he hath assigned thereunto, are true, and to be relied on, the apostle proves by the effects which, as such, it hath had in those of old in whom it was.

Hebrews 11:2. ᾿Εν ταύτῃ γὰρ ἑμαρτυρήθησαν οἱ πρεσβύτεροι.

᾿Εν ταύτῃ, “in hac,” “de hac,” “ob hanc,” “ob eam;” all to the same purpose. ᾿Εμαρτυρήθησαν, “testimonium consequuti,” “adepti;” “testimonio ornati.” Syr., בְּהָדָא הֲוָת סָהֲדוּתָא עַל קַשִׁישֵׁא, “And hereof” (or of this faith) “there is extant a testimony concerning the ancients;” which somewhat changeth the sense.

Πρεσβύτεροι, “seniores,” “majores,” “antiqui.” Syr., “those of ancient times;” properly, not הַזְקַנִים but הקַּדְמֹנִים, “priores,” those of old. Μαρτυρέω is “to testify,” “to bear witness,” absolutely; but it is generally used only in the better sense, “to give a good testimony,” “to approve by testimony,” “to adorn with a good testimony.” So is the passive, μαρτυρέομαι, used: which I observe only because the word is here used absolutely, ἐμαρτυρήζησαν, “were witnessed unto;” which we render,” obtained a good report.” So is it also used, Acts 6:3, ἄνδρας μαρτυρουμένους, “men witnessed unto,” “men of good report;” and Acts 10:22, μαρτυρούμενοι ὑπὸ ὅλου τοῦ ἔθνους, “of good report;” and so in other places.

“Were testified unto:” wherein and for what is not expressed; that we shall immediately inquire into. “There is a testimony extant concerning their faith,” as the Syriac reads it, doth not reach the sense of the place; for it intends not so much what good testimony they had, as the way whereby they obtained it, ᾿Εν ταύτῃ for διὰ ταυτῆς, as is usual; “by it,” through it as the means and instrumental cause of it. Our Rhemists render the words somewhat in an uncouth manner, “for in it the old men obtained testimony;” as if it were on purpose to obscure the text.

Hebrews 11:2. For by it the elders obtained a good report: [or, were well testified unto.] The coherence of the words with the foregoing is expressed in the conjunctive particle γάρ, “for:” and it declares that a proof is tendered, by way of instance, of what was before asserted. ‘The nature and efficacy of faith is such as I have described; “for by it the elders,” etc.'This they could no way have done, but by that faith whereof these are the properties.

Obs. 1. Instances or examples are the most powerful confirmations of practical truths.

For the exposition of the words, it must be declared,

1. Who were the elders intended.

2. How they were testified unto, or from whom they obtained this testimony.

3. What it was that was testified concerning them.

4. On what account they had this testimony.

1. Who these “elders” were is put beyond dispute by the ensuing discourse. All true believers from the foundation of the world, or the giving of the first promise, unto the end of the dispensation of the old testament, are intended; for in all sorts of them he giveth particular instances, from Abel unto those who suffered the last persecution that the church of the Jews underwent for religion, verses 36-38. What befell them afterward was judgment and punishment for sin, not persecution for religion. All these, by one general name, he calleth “the elders,” comprising all that went before them. ‘Thus was it constantly with all believers from the beginning of the world, the elders, those who lived before us, in ancient times.'

2. This testimony was given unto them in the Scripture; that is, it is so in particular of many of them, and of the rest in the general rules of it. It is the Holy Spirit in the Scripture that gives them this good testimony; for thereunto doth the apostle appeal for the proof of his assertion. In and from the world things were otherwise with them; none so defamed, so reproached, so reviled as they were. If they had had such a good report in the world, their example would not have been of use unto the apostle's design; for he applies it unto them who were made a “gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflictions,” Hebrews 10:33; and so it was with many of them, who yet obtained this testimony. They “had trial of cruel mockings,” etc., verses 36,37.

Obs. 2. They who have a good testimony from God shall never want reproaches from the world.

3. What was so testified of them is expressly declared afterwards; and this is, that they “pleased God,” or were accepted with him. The Holy Ghost in Scripture gives testimony unto them, that they pleased God, that they were righteous, that they were justified in the sight of God, verses 4-6, etc.

4. That whereon this testimony was founded, is their “faith.” In, by, or through their believing it was, that they obtained this report. Many other great and excellent things, some heroic actions, some deep sufferings, are ascribed unto them, but their obtaining this testimony is assigned to faith alone; as for other reasons, so because all those other things were fruits of their faith, whose acceptance with God depended thereon. And we may observe,

Obs. 3. It is faith alone which from the beginning of the world (or from the giving of the first promise) was the means and way of obtaining acceptance with God. There hath been great variety in the revelations of the object of this faith. The faith of some, as of Noah and some others, was principally and signally exercised on especial objects, as we shall see in our progress; but it is faith of the same nature and kind in all from first to last that gives acceptance with God. And all the promises of God, as branches of the first promise, are in general the formal object of it; that is, Christ in them, without faith in whom none was ever accepted with God, as we shall see.

Obs. 4. The faith of true believers from the beginning of the world was fixed on things future, hoped for, and invisible; that is, eternal life “obtained a good report,” as the apostle here testifies. So vain is the imagination of them who affirm that all the promises under the old testament respected only things temporal; so making the whole church to have been Sadducees The contrary is here expressly affirmed by the apostle.

Obs. 5. That faith whereby men please God acts itself in a fixed contemplation on things future and invisible, from whence it derives encouragement and strength to endure and abide firm in profession against all oppositions and persecutions.

Obs. 6. However men may be despised, vilified, and reproached in the world, yet if they have faith, if they are true believers, they are accepted with God, and he will give them a good report.