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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God ,.... The celestial world, with its inhabitants, the angels; the starry and ethereal worlds, with all that is in them, the sun, moon, stars, and fowls of the air; the terrestrial world, with all upon it, men, beasts, &c.; and the watery world, the sea, and all that is therein: perhaps some respect may be had to the distinction of worlds among the Jews; See Gill on Hebrews 1:2 , though the apostle can scarce be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain ,.... The apostle proceeds to examples of faith, and begins with Abel: it may seem strange that Adam and Eve are not mentioned; this omission is not because they were not believers; but either because of the fall and ruin of mankind by them; or because the apostle speaks only of such who had received some eminent testimony by faith, and therefore passes by many believers, and hastens to Abraham, the father of the Jews. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was translated ,.... Which is to be understood, not of a spiritual translation from the power of darkness, into the kingdom of Christ, as all converted, persons are translated, and doubtless Enoch was; nor of a rapture, or removal from one part of the earth to another, or from one part of a country to another, as Philip was caught away by the Spirit, after the baptism of the eunuch; but of a translation from earth to heaven; and not for a while only, as Paul was caught up to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him ,.... Or do things well pleasing in his sight; or any of the duties of religion, in an acceptable way; as prayer, praise, attendance on the word and ordinances, or any good works whatever; because such are without Christ, and without his Spirit; and have neither right principles, nor right ends: for this is not to be understood of the persons of God's elect, as considered in Christ; in whom they are well pleasing to him before faith; being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being warned of God ,.... In the Greek text, Noah is called "Noe", and so the Septuagint interpreters of the Old Testament call him; but Josephus calls him "Noeos": or "having received an oracle from God"; in which he was admonished, how to make an ark, as Moses was, in like manner, how to make a tabernacle, Hebrews 8:5 . This oracle or warning is extant, in Genesis 6:13 and it was of things not seen as yet ; as the universal deluge; the building of an ark or ship,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:8

By faith, Abraham, when he was called ,.... The Alexandrian copy and the Vulgate Latin version read, "by faith he who was called Abraham"; but this call is not to be understood of his name; for though his first name Abram might be given him, in the faith of his being a great man, and his second name Abraham, when he himself was a believer; yet this change was made some years after the call referred to; which is that in Genesis 12:1 when he was called out of his own country, kindred, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:9

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise ,.... The land of Canaan, so called, because it was promised to Abraham and his seed; and is typical of heaven, which is not by the works of the law, but by the free promise and grace of God: here Abraham sojourned for a while, as in a strange country ; which was not his native place, and not his own, but another's; see Acts 7:5 and an idolatrous one; here he sojourned by faith, believing that as it was promised, it would be given to him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:10

For he looked for a city which hath foundations ,.... Not the city of Jerusalem, nor the Gospel church state; but either the city of the new Jerusalem, said to have twelve foundations, Revelation 21:14 and in which glorious state, Abraham, with the rest of the saints, being raised from the dead, will in person possess the promised land; or else the ultimate glory of the saints in heaven, where God dwells, and keeps his palace; and which will be the dwelling place of the saints, and will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:11

Through faith also Sarah herself ,.... Some copies add "being barren"; and so read the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; which is a circumstance which makes her faith appear the greater: but it is a question whether the apostle speaks of the faith of Sarah, or of Abraham; some think he speaks of Abraham's faith; and that it was through his faith that Sarah conceived; and observe, that the last clause may be rendered, "because he judged him faithful", &c.; and the rather,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:12

That is, Abraham: the Arabic version has here a strange interpolation; "this faith Isaac and Rebecca conceived in mind, and so there were born of one, Esau and Jacob.' And him as good as dead ; being an hundred years of age; See Gill on Romans 4:19 . The Ethiopic version reads, "the bodies of both were like a dead carcass"; both of Abraham and Sarah: so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable ; as was promised to Abraham, ... read more

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