THE general nature of this epistle, as unto the kind of writing, is parenetical or hortatory; which is taken from its end and design. And the exhortation proposed is unto constancy and perseverance in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ and profession of the gospel, against temptations and persecutio... [ Continue Reading ]
The first verse gives such a description of the nature of faith, as evidenceth its fitness and meetness unto the effecting of the great work assigned unto it, namely, the preservation of believers in the profession of the gospel with constancy and perseverance. Hebrews 11:1. ῎Εστι δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομ... [ Continue Reading ]
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, “i... [ Continue Reading ]
He enters on the confirmation and exemplification of his proposition by instances; first from an _especial object of faith,_ and then proceeds unto the _actings_ of it in them who by virtue of it did actually and really believe. The former he expresseth in this verse. Hebrews 11:3. Πίστει νοῦμεν κα... [ Continue Reading ]
From the proposition of the nature of faith in general, and a declaration of its efficacy with respect unto things believed, the apostle proceeds to give instances of its power and efficacy in _particular persons,_ whose example in believing he proposeth unto the Hebrews for their encouragement. And... [ Continue Reading ]
His second instance is in Enoch; for he is the second man unto whom testimony is personally given that he “pleased God,” and was accepted with him. Others no doubt before him did so, and were so accepted; for he was “the seventh from Adam:” but as Abel was the first, so he is the second who was so p... [ Continue Reading ]
There being no direct mention made of faith in the testimony given unto Enoch, but only that by walking with God he pleased him, the apostle in this verse proves from thence that it was by faith that he so pleased God, and consequently that thereby he obtained his translation. Hebrews 11:6. Χωρἰς δ... [ Continue Reading ]
Noah is the third person mentioned in the Scripture, unto whom testimony was given in particular that “he was righteous;” and therefore the apostle produceth him in the third place, as an instance of the power and efficacy of faith, declaring also wherein his faith wrought and was effectual Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle hath now passed over the _first period_ of Scripture records, namely, from the beginning of the world unto the flood; and therein he hath considered the examples of all concerning whom it is testified in particular that they “pleased God,” and were accepted with him in their obedience. A... [ Continue Reading ]
Having declared the foundation of the faith of Abraham, and given the first signal instance of it, he proceeds to declare his progress in its exercise, first in general, and then in particular acts and duties; wherein he intermixeth some especial acts of it, whereby he was enabled and encouraged in... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle gives a full indication in this discourse that Abraham was very well satisfied with the state and condition of a stranger and pilgrim in the world, without possession, without inheritance, which God had called him unto. And therefore he proceeds in the next place to declare the grounds a... [ Continue Reading ]
The instances of the faith of Abraham insisted on by the apostle in this discourse may be referred unto two heads: first, Such as respect his call; secondly, Such as respect the promise made unto him. Those of the first sort are two: 1. His obedience unto the divine call, in leaving his country an... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse we have an illustration of the fruit of the faith before declared, by the eminent consequent of it, in the numerous or innumerable posterity of Abraham. Hebrews 11:12. Διὸ καὶ ἀφ᾿ ἑνὸς ἐγεννήθησαν, καὶ ταῦτα νενεκρωμένου, καθὼς τὰ ἄστρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τῷ πλήθει, καὶ ὡς ἡ ἄμμος ἡ παρὰ τὸ... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon the proposal of these instances, because there was somewhat peculiar in them, distinct from those before recounted and those which follow after, namely, their pilgrim estate after the call of Abraham, the apostle diverts unto the declaration of what they did, what they attained, and what they p... [ Continue Reading ]
From the profession of these patriarchs, that they were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” the apostle makes an _inference_ from what is contained therein, which doth more expressly declare their faith than the words themselves which they were said to use. Hebrews 11:14. Οἱ γὰρ ποιαῦτα λέγοντες... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereas these patriarchs did thus express their desire of a country, and diligently sought after it, it may be because, having lost their _own country,_ their relations, and enjoyments, meeting with the difficulties of a wandering course of life, they had a desire to return home again, where they mi... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle hereon draws another inference, wherein he expresseth the true, real object of their faith and desires, with the great advantage and dignity which they obtained thereon. Hebrews 11:16. Νυνὶ δὲ κρείΤτονος ὀρέγονται, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν ἐπουρανίου· διὸ οὐκ ἐπαισχύνεται αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς, Θεὸς ἐπικαλε... [ Continue Reading ]
Having spoken of the faith of the first patriarchs in the _third period of time,_ the second from the flood, in general, with respect unto their peculiar state as pilgrims in the land of Canaan, he now singles them out in particular, giving particular instances of their faith, beginning with Abraham... [ Continue Reading ]
Πίστει περὶ μελλόντων εὐλόγησεν ᾿Ισαὰκ τὸν ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ τὸν ᾿Ησαῦ. Hebrews 11:20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. Isaac was a holy person, who, though a pilgrim, yet, as far as appeareth, spent most of his time in peace, without great perils and dangers. Wherefore th... [ Continue Reading ]
Πίστει ᾿Ιακὼβ ἀποθνήσκων ἓκαστον τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ιωσὴφ ἐυλόγνσε, καὶ προσεκύνησεν ἐπὶ τὸ ἄχρον τῆς ῥάβδου αὐτοῦ. ᾿Αποθνήσκων, “moriens,” “moriturus,” “cum moreretur;” “when he drew nigh to death,” the present tense; that which was then in the next disposition unto the actual death that shortly ensued; pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Πίστει ᾿Ιωσὴφ τελευτῶν περὶ τῆς ἐξόδου τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐμνημόνευσε, καὶ περὶ τῶν ὀστέων αὐτοῦ ἐνετείλατο. Hebrews 11:22. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. Two instances are here proposed of the faith... [ Continue Reading ]
In searching the sacred records for eminent examples of the power and efficacy of faith, the apostle is arrived unto that of Moses. And because this is the greatest instance, next to that of Abraham, he insists on sundry acts and fruits thereof. And indeed, if we consider aright his person and his c... [ Continue Reading ]
Πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἰὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ· μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἥ πρὀσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν· μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἀπέβλετε γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Μέγας γενόμενος. Syr., כּד... [ Continue Reading ]
Πίστει κατέλιπεν Αἴγυπτον, μὴ φοβηθεὶς τὸν θύμον τοῦ βασιλέως· τὸν γὰρ ἀόρατον ὡς ὁρῶν ἐκαρτέρησε. Τὸν θύμον _._ Vulg. Lat., “animositatem;” which the Rhemists translate, “fierceness.” Syr., מֵן חֵמָּתֵהּ, “from the fury of the king.” “Iram,” “iracundiam;” or as we, very properly, “the wrath.” ᾿Εκ... [ Continue Reading ]
Πίστει πεποίηκε τὸ πάσχα καὶ τὴν πρόσχυσιν τοῦ αἵματος, ἵνα μὴ ὁ ὀλοθρεύων τὰ πρωτότοκα θίγῃ αὐτῶν. Πεποίηκε τὸ πάσκα, “he wrought,” “he made the passover.” So the Syriac, ‘ פֶצְחָא עֲבַד. Vulg., ‘*celebravit pascha:” Rhem., “he celebrated the passover.” “Fecit,” “peregit;” “be performed,” “kept.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Having fixed the foundation and beginning of the deliverance of the church on the exercise of faith in the observance of the holy institutions of divine worship, prescribed to be the signs and tokens thereof, the apostle proceeds to give an instance in one of the most remarkable passages of divine p... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse the apostle adds another instance of the faith of the whole congregation, in the sense before declared; for although respect no doubt be had unto the faith of Joshua in an especial manner, yet that of the whole people is expressed. Hebrews 11:30. Πίστει τὰ τείχη ῾Ιεριχὼ ἔπεσε, κυκλωθέ... [ Continue Reading ]
Hitherto we have had the examples of men, with one woman only, in conjunction with her husband. In this verse the apostle puts a close unto his particular instances in that of one single woman, accompanied with many eminent circumstances, as we shall see. Hebrews 11:31. Πίστει ῾Ραὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐ συνα... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse, and unto the end of Hebrews 11:38, he sums up the remaining testimonies which he might further have insisted on in particular; with intimation that there were yet more of the like kind upon record, which he would not so much as name. But he changeth the method which he had hitherto ob... [ Continue Reading ]
From the enumeration of the _persons_ that believed, the apostle proceeds to declare the _things_ which they wrought by faith; all unto the same end, to encourage us to make use of the same grace in all our occasions. And four instances he giveth in this verse. Hebrews 11:33. Οἵ διὰ πίστεως κατηγων... [ Continue Reading ]
῎Εσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρὸς, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενη. θησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων· ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν. Hebrews 11:34. Quenched the violence _[the power]_ of fire; escaped _[fled from]_ the edge _[edges]_ of the... [ Continue Reading ]
He proceeds in the next place unto instances quite of another nature, and which were more immediately suited unto the condition of the Hebrews. For hearing of these great and glorious things, they might be apt to think that they were not so immediately concerned in them; for their condition was poor... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle hath not yet finished his account of the sufferings of these worthies; yet he thought meet to interpose _a character of their persons._ For men in this course of life might be looked on, and were so by some, as the “offscouring of all things,” and unmeet either for human converse or any... [ Continue Reading ]
Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες ¸ μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν· τοῦ Θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσι. Hebrews 11:39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for... [ Continue Reading ]