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 ]