The Heroes of Faith The main task of the writer has now been performed, but the remainder of the Epistle had also a very important purpose. It would have been fatal to the peace of mind of a Jewish convert to feel that there was a chasm between his Christian faith and the faith of his past life. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now faith_ Since he has said "we are of faith to gaining of the soul," the question might naturally arise, What then is faith? It is nowhere defined in Scripture, nor is it defined here, for the writer rather describes it in its effects than in its essence; but it is described by what it _does_. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For by it the elders obtained a good report_ Lit., "For therein the elders had witness borne to them." Their "good report" was won in the sphere of faith. The elders a technical Jewish term (_Zekenîm_) means the ancient fathers of the Church of Israel (Hebrews 1:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Through faith_ In this chapter we find fifteen special instances of the work of faith, besides the summary enumeration in the 32nd and following verses. _we understand_ -we apprehend with the reason". See Romans 1:20. _that the worlds were framed_ The word for "worlds" means literally ages (Hebre... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith Abel_ Intending, so to speak, "to pluck only the flowers which happen to come within his reach, while he leaves the whole meadow full to his readers," he begins to cull his instances from the world before the flood. His examples of faith fall into five groups. 1. Antediluvian (4 6). 2. Fro... [ Continue Reading ]
_Enoch was translated_ Lit., "was transferred (hence)" (Genesis 5:24; Sir 44:16; Sir 49:14; Jos. _Antt._i. 3. § 4. _was not found, because God had translated him_. Genesis 5:24 (LXX. Cod. _Alex_). _he had this testimony_ "he hath had witness born to him;" "Enoch walked with God," Genesis 5:24 (LXX... [ Continue Reading ]
_that he is_ The object of Faith is both the existence and the Divine government of God. "We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). _and that he is a rewarder_ Rather, "and that he _becomes_(i.e. shews or proves Himself to be) a re... [ Continue Reading ]
_warned of God_ The same word is used as in Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 12:25. _moved with fear_ Influenced by godly caution and reverence; the same kind of fear as that implied in Hebrews 5:7. _condemned the world_ His example was in condemning contrast with the unbelief of the world (Matthew 12:41; Luk... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abraham_ As was natural, the faith of "the father of the faithful was one of the commonest topics of discussion in the Jewish Schools. Wordsworth (_Eccles. Sonnets_, xxvi.) speaks of " _Faith_, which to the Patriarchs did dispense Sure guidance ere a ceremonial fence Was needful to men thirsting... [ Continue Reading ]
_as in a strange country_ "I am a stranger and a sojourner with you" (Genesis 23:3). The patriarchs are constantly called _paroikoi_, "dwellers beside," "sojourners" (Genesis 17:8; Genesis 20:1, &c). _dwelling in tabernacles_ i.e. in tents (Genesis 12:8; Genesis 13:3, &c).... [ Continue Reading ]
_a city which hath foundations_ Rather, "the city which hath the foundations," namely, "the Jerusalem above" (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:14; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:14). The same thought is frequently found in Philo. The tents of the Patriarchs had no foundations; the foundatio... [ Continue Reading ]
_also Sara herself_ Rather "even." Perhaps the "even" refers to her original weakness of faith when she laughed (Genesis 18:12; Genesis 21:2; comp. Romans 4:19). Dr Field thinks that these words may be a gloss, and that the verse refers to Abraham, since ἔτεκεν, "was delivered," is not found in א, A... [ Continue Reading ]
_as the stars … as the sand_ Genesis 22:17; Deuteronomy 1:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in faith_ Lit. "according to faith." _not having received the promises_ They received the promises in one sense, _as_promises (Hebrews 11:17), but had not yet entered upon their fruition (comp. Hebrews 11:39 and Hebrews 9:15). _and were persuaded of them_ These words are not found in all the best... [ Continue Reading ]
_that they seek a country_ Rather, "that they are seeking further after a native land." Hence comes the argument of the next verse that it was not their old home in Chaldea for which they were yearning, but a heavenly native-land.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to have returned_ But they never attempted to return to Mesopotamia, because they were home-sick not for that land but for heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But now_ "But, as the case now is." _they desire_ The word means, "they are yearning for," "they stretch forth their hands towards." _is not ashamed to be called their God_ Rather, "is not ashamed of them, to be called their God" (Genesis 28:13; Exodus 3:6-15.) _he hath prepared for them a city_... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith Abraham … offered up Isaac_ Reverting to Abraham, whose faith (1) in leaving his country, (2) in living as a stranger in Canaan, he has already mentioned, he now adduces the third and greatest instance of his faithful obedience in being ready to offer up Isaac. Both tenses, "hath offered u... [ Continue Reading ]
_of whom_ Lit. "with reference to whom" (Isaac); or perhaps "to whom," i.e. to Abraham. _in Isaac shall thy seed be called_ Genesis 17:8; Genesis 17:19; Genesis 21:12, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_from whence_ The only place in this Epistle where ὅθεν has its local sense. _in a figure_ Lit. "in a parable." For the use of the word see Hebrews 9:9. The exact meaning is much disputed. It has been rendered "as a type" (comp. Vulg. _in parabolam_), or "in a bold venture." or "unexpectedly." These... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau_ It is true that the blessing of Esau when rightly translated, "Behold thy dwelling shall be _away from_the fatness of the earth and _away from_the dew of blessing" (Genesis 27:39) reads more like a curse; but the next verse (40) involves a promise of ultimate... [ Continue Reading ]
_both the sons_ Rather, "each of the sons." He made a marked difference between them (Genesis 48:17-19). _worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff_ In this verse there is an allusion to two separate events. The first is the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:1-20); the other an earlie... [ Continue Reading ]
_when he died_ The less common word for "dying" is here taken from the LXX. of Genesis 1:26. _gave commandment concerning his bones_ A sign of his perfect conviction that God's promise would be fulfilled (Genesis 50:24-25; Exodus 13:19; comp. Acts 7:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses … was hid_ The "faith" is of course that of his parents, Amram and Jochebed. _of his parents_ This is implied in the LXX. of Exodus 2:2, but the Hebrew only says that his _mother_concealed him. _a proper child_ In Acts 7:20 he is called "fair to God." In his marvellous beauty (see Philo, _V... [ Continue Reading ]
_refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter_ He refused the rank of an Egyptian prince. The reference is to the Jewish legends which were rich in details about the infancy and youth of Moses. See Jos. _Antt._ii. ix xi.; Philo, Opp. ii. 82; Stanley, _Lect. on Jewish Church_. The only referenc... [ Continue Reading ]
_with the people of Cod_ Hebrews 4:9. _the pleasures of sin for a season_ The _brevity_of sinful enjoyment is alluded to in Job 20:5, "The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment." The special sin would have been the very one to which the readers were tempte... [ Continue Reading ]
_the reproach of Christ_ Rather, "of the Christ" (comp. Hebrews 13:13; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Romans 15:3; Philippians 3:7-11; Colossians 1:24). There may be in the words a reminiscence of Psalms 89:50-51, "Remember Lord _the reproach_of thy servants … wherewith thine enemies have _reproached_the footst... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith he forsook Egypt_ This must allude to the Exodus, not to the flight of Moses into Midian. On the latter occasion, he distinctly did "fear the wrath of the king" (Exodus 2:14-15). It is true that for the moment Pharaoh and the Egyptians pressed the Israelites to depart, but it was only in f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Through faith_ Rather, "by faith," as before. _he kept the passover_ Lit. "he hath made," or "instituted." Another of the author's characteristic tenses (see Hebrews 11:17). _and the sprinkling of blood_ Exodus 12:21-23. The "faith" consisted primarily in believing the promises and obeying the com... [ Continue Reading ]
_they_ Moses and the Israelites. _were drowned_ Lit., "were swallowed up" (Exodus 14:15-28; Psalms 106:9-12). _which the Egyptians assaying to do_ The Greek words must mean "of which sea" (or "of which dry land") the Egyptians making trial.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the walls of Jericho fell down_ Joshua 4:12-20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_By faith_ Joshua 2:9-11, "The Lord your God, He is God." _the harlot Rahab_ So she is called in Joshua 2:1; James 2:25, and it shews the faithfulness of the sacred narrative that her name is even introduced as well as that of Ruth, a Moabitess, in the genealogy of our Lord (Matthew 1:5). The Targu... [ Continue Reading ]
_the time would fail me_ The phrase is also found in Philo, _De Somniis_. The names of "the heroes of faith" here mentioned are drawn from the Books of Judges and Samuel, with a reference to the Books of Kings and Chronicles, and what is known of the history of the Prophets. There does not seem to b... [ Continue Reading ]
_subdued kingdoms_ The allusion is specially to the conquest of Canaan by Joshua, and to the victories of David (2 Samuel 5:17-25; 2 Samuel 21:15, &c.). _wrought righteousness_ The allusion is somewhat vague, but seems to refer to the justice of Judges and Kings (1 Samuel 12:3-4; 2Sa 8:15; 1 Chroni... [ Continue Reading ]
_quenched the violence of fire_ Daniel 3:25; 1Ma 2:59. _escaped the edge of the sword_ David (1Sa 18:11; 1 Samuel 19:10, &c.), Elijah (1 Kings 19:2), Elisha (2 Kings 6:12-17; Jeremiah 26:24, &c.). _out of weakness were made strong_ Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:5), Samson (Judges 15:15;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Women received their dead_ The woman of Sarepta (1 Kings 17:22), the Shunamite (2 Kings 4:32-36). _raised to life again_ Lit., "by resurrection." _were tortured_ The word means, technically, "were broken on the wheel," and the special reference may be to 2Ma 6:18-30; 2Ma 6:7. (the tortures of Ele... [ Continue Reading ]
_mockings and scourgings_ "Seven brethren and their mother … being tormented with scourges and whips … and they brought the second for a mocking-stock … And after him was the third made a mocking-stock … And … they tortured and tormented the fourth in like manner" (2Ma 7:1; 2Ma 7:7; 2Ma 7:10; 2Ma 7:... [ Continue Reading ]
_they were stoned_ Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-21). Jewish tradition said that Jeremiah was stoned. See Matthew 23:35-37; Luke 11:51. _were sawn asunder_ This was the traditional mode of Isaiah's martyrdom. Hamburger _Talm. Wörterb_. s. v. Jesaia. Comp. Matthew 24:51. The punishment was well-know... [ Continue Reading ]
_was not worthy_ The world was unworthy of them though it treated them as worthless. The Greek would also admit the meaning that they outweighed in value the whole world (see Proverbs 8:11, LXX.). _in dens and caves_ The Israelites in general (Judges 6:1). The prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4; 1 K... [ Continue Reading ]
_having obtained a good report through faith_ "Having been borne witness to through their faith," i.e. _though_they had this testimony borne to them, they did not see the fulfilment of the promises. _received not the promise_ See Hebrews 11:17; Hebrews 11:33; Hebrews 6:15; Hebrews 9:15. They did no... [ Continue Reading ]
_God having provided some better thing for us_ Lit., "Since God provided" (or "foresaw") "some better thing concerning us." In one sense Abraham, and therefore other patriarchs "rejoiced to see Christ's day," and yet they did but see it in such dim shadow that "many prophets and kings desired to see... [ Continue Reading ]