Knowing that the believing Hebrews had been, and still were exposed to
persecution on account of the gospel, and fearing lest they should be
thereby cast down, and moved from their steadfastness, the apostle had
endeavoured to support them in their adherence to Christ and his cause
by suggesting the... [ Continue Reading ]
_By it the elders_ Our forefathers, or the pious of former ages;
_obtained a good report_ Εμαρτυρηθησαν, _received
testimony_, of God's approbation of them, or were borne witnesses to
by God as persons accepted of him. The word is very comprehensive,
implying that God gave a testimony, not only _of_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Through faith we understand that the worlds_ Although the expression,
τους αιωνας, generally signifies _the ages_, yet here the
subsequent clause determines its signification to the material fabric
of the world, comprehending the sun, moon, and stars, &c., (called by
Moses the heaven and the earth,... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ In the divine command or appointment, signified unto him by
some supernatural revelation, and 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 gr... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ That is, his firm faith in the being and perfections of
God, especially his omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence; his truth,
justice, mercy, and goodness; and in consequence of that exemplary
holiness which was the fruit of this faith; _Enoch was translated_
Μετετεθη, _was removed_, nam... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith Noah_ The third person mentioned in Scripture, to whom
testimony was particularly given that he was righteous; and therefore,
the apostle brings him forward as a third example of the power and
efficacy of faith, declaring also wherein his faith wrought and was
effectual. _Being warned of G... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ In the divine promises; _Abraham when he was called_ The
call here intended is referred to Genesis 12:1; _to go out_ From his
father's house and native land; _into a place_ far distant, _which_
God promised _he should afterward receive for an inheritance_ Without
disputing or murmuring, _... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_, &c. Believing that Canaan was promised to him and his seed
only as a type of a better country, he acquired no possessions therein
except a burying-place, and built no houses there; but _sojourned in
the land of promise as in a strange country_ Αλλοτιαν, _a
country belonging to others, dw... [ Continue Reading ]
_Through faith also Sara_ Though at first she laughed at the promise
through unbelief; _received strength_ Εις καταβολην
σπερματος, _for the conception of seed; and was delivered of
a child when she was past age_ That is, beyond the due time of age for
such a purpose, when she was ninety years old,... [ Continue Reading ]
_These all_ Namely, Abraham and Sarah, with their children, Isaac and
Jacob; _died in faith_ Believing that God would fulfil his promises;
but _not having received the promises_ That is, the things promised,
for which the word _promises_ is here put by a usual metonymy. For the
promises being made t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For they that say such things_ That speak of themselves as strangers
and pilgrims; _declare plainly that they seek a country_ Different
from that in which they dwell. Or rather, that they seek their own, or
their father's country, as πατριδα, the word here used,
signifies. They show that they keep... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ Namely, by believing that God would perform his promise of
giving him a numerous issue, notwithstanding that the command here
referred to seemed to contradict and preclude the performance of it;
_Abraham, when he was tried_ When God made that glorious trial of him,
recorded Genesis 22:9;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Accounting_ Λογισαμενος, _reasoning_, or concluding, after
weighing all circumstances; _that_, notwithstanding the apparent
contradiction in the divine revelations; _God was able to raise him up
_
Although he should be burned to ashes; and would _raise him even from
the dead_ Though, so far as we c... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ By firmly believing what God had revealed unto him
concerning the future state of his children; _Isaac blessed Jacob and
Esau_ Prophetically foretold the particular blessings they should
receive, preferring the younger before the elder. See notes on Genesis
27:6. _By faith Jacob, when a d... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ In God's promise, to give Canaan to the posterity of Jacob;
_Joseph, when he died_ Τελευτων, _ending his life; made
mention of the departing of Israel_ Namely, out of Egypt, as an event
which would certainly take place; _and gave commandment concerning his
bones_ To be carried into the la... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith Moses_ As if he had said, The parents of Moses believing,
when he was a child, that God would make use of him at a future
period, for some extraordinary service to his people; _hid him three
months_ In their own house, to preserve him from falling a sacrifice
to the cruelty of Pharaoh. It... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith Moses_ None in the old world was more signalized by
Providence in his birth, education, and actions, than Moses; hence his
renown was both then and ever after very great; _when he was come to
years_ Μεγας γενομενος, _when he became great;_ Syriac,
_when he was a man._ The word may respect... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ Namely, in the power of God to preserve and conduct him and
them, notwithstanding Pharaoh's rage and threatening; _he forsook
Egypt_ Taking all the Israelites with him; _not fearing the wrath of
the king_ As he did many years before, when he fled from Egypt into
Midian: see Exodus 2:14. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Through faith_ From a lively apprehension and firm persuasion of the
benefits signified and sealed thereby, and especially that God would
assuredly send his angel on the vindictive design predicted, and would
spare the houses properly distinguished; see Exodus 12:12; Exodus
12:23; _he kept the pass... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ The faith of Joshua and the Israelites in God's promise;
_the walls of Jericho fell down_ Being smitten by the hand of God,
without any human force; _after they were compassed about_ In solemn
silence, according to the divine command; _seven days_ How absurd a
spectacle soever their proce... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ Expressed in her words, recorded Joshua 2:9, _I know that
the Lord hath given you the land, &c.; the harlot Rahab_ That is, who
had once been a harlot; but after she believed in the true God, it is
reasonable to think she amended her manners, as well as repented of
the lie by which she de... [ Continue Reading ]
_And what shall I more say_ On this copious, this inexhaustible
subject? _For the time would fail me_ If I should attempt to discourse
at large; _of Gideon_ Who with a small band of men cut off so many
thousands of the Midianites; and _Barak_ Who, through faith in the
prophecy of Deborah, freed Isra... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who through faith subdued kingdoms_ As Joshua, the Judges, David, and
others; _wrought righteousness_ Lived righteous and holy lives, and
administered justice impartially, 1 Samuel 12:3. _Obtained promises_
Namely, of particular mercies, as Sarah, Hannah, Manoah, and the
prophets in general, both f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Women_, naturally weak, _received their dead_ children _raised to
life again_ Compare 1 Kings 17:22; 2 Kings 4:36; _and others_
Particularly seven children and one pious and holy mother; _were
tortured_ In the most inhuman manner, to compel them to renounce their
religion, and be guilty of idolatry... [ Continue Reading ]
_They were stoned_ As Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, 2 Chronicles
24:21. See also Matthew 23:31; _they were sawn asunder_ As, according
to the tradition of the Jews, Isaiah was by Manasseh; _were tempted_
With offers of deliverance; but remaining steadfast, were then _slain
with the sword_ As also... [ Continue Reading ]
_These all, having obtained a good report_ Μαρτυρηθεντες,
_being witnessed unto_, as persons who did or suffered great things by
faith. The expression does not imply that all the Israelitish judges,
captains, and other worthies mentioned in this chapter, as well as the
ancients, were truly righteous... [ Continue Reading ]
_God having provided some better thing for us_ Believers under the
gospel, than any bestowed upon them, which _better thing_ is Christ
himself manifest in the flesh, with the various privileges and
blessings of the gospel dispensation, far exceeding those of the two
dispensations that preceded it. F... [ Continue Reading ]