Hebrews 11: 2
CHAPTER 11
[3.] Faith brings into the soul an experience of their power and efficacy, whereby it is cast into the mould of them, or made conformable unto them,
Rom. 6:17; Eph. 4:21–23. This gives an assurance unto the mind, though not of the same nature, yet more excellent than that of any scientific demonstration.
(3.) Faith, in its being thus "the evidence of things not seen," is the great means of the preservation of believers in constant, patient profession of the gospel, against all opposition, and under the fiercest persecutions; which is the thing the apostle aims to demonstrate. For,—
[1.] It plainly discovers, that the worst of what we can undergo in this world, for the profession of the gospel, bears no proportion unto the excellency and glory of those invisible things which it gives us an interest in and a participation of. So the apostle argues, Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:16–18.
[2.] It brings in such a present sense of their goodness, power, and efficacy, that not only relieves and refresheth the soul under all its sufferings, but makes it joyful in them, and victorious over them, Rom. 5:3–5, 8:34–37; 1 Pet. 1:6–8.
[3.] It gives an assurance hereby of the greatness and glory of the eternal reward; which is the greatest encouragement unto constancy in believing, 1 Pet.
4:12, 13.
In this description of faith, the apostle hath laid an assured foundation of his main position, concerning the cause and means of constancy in profession under trouble and persecution; with a discovery of the nature and end of the ensuing instances, with their suitableness unto his purpose. And we may observe in general, that,— Obs. V. It is faith alone that takes believers out of this world whilst they are in it, that exalts them above it whilst they are under its rage; that enables them to live upon things future and invisible, giving such a real subsistence unto their power in them, and victorious evidence of their reality and truth in themselves, as secures them from fainting under all oppositions, temptations, and persecutions whatever.
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.
Ἐν ταύτῃ, "in hâc," "de hâc," "ob hanc," "ob eam;" all to the same purpose.
CHAPTER 11
Ἐμαρτυρήθησαν, "testimonium consequuti," "adepti;" "testimonio ornati."
Syr., " ,১ְּב הָדָא הֲוָת סָהֲדּותָא עַל קַৠִּד יৠֵאAnd 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 הַ৬ְּבקַנִּדיםbut " ,הַ৸ַדְּב מֹנִּדיםpriores," 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, ἐμαρτυρήθησαν, "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 chap. 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.
Ἐν 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.
Ver. 2.—For by it the elders obtained a good report: [or, were well testified unto.] Γάρ. 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. I. 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.
CHAPTER 11
Οἱ πρεσβύτεροι. 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.'
Ἐμαρτυρήθησαν. 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," chap. 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. II. 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.
Ἐν ταύτῃ. 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. III. 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