Hebrews 11:17,Hebrews 11:8

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Hebrews 11:17

(17) The patriarchs displayed their faith in the attitude of their whole life, and in their death. This has been the thought of the preceding verses; the writer now passes to the lessons taught by particular actions and events.Tried.—Genesis 22:1 : “God did tempt Abraham.” The following word is in the Greek “hath offered up Isaac,” and several other examples of a similar peculiarity will present themselves in this chapter. As in former cases (Hebrews 4:9; Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 10:9) the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Hebrews 11:1-40

The Beginning of Faith Hebrews 11:1 As we hear these words we seem to penetrate down through all the differences and distinctions of outward forms and ceremonies to that which lies at the very root and foundation of religion the sense that beyond and behind the visible there is an invisible; that all that we see is but a reflection, a broken image of an unseen Divine ideal; that all around us and above us and within us there are mighty agencies ever working, regulating, creating, controlling... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:8-19

CHAPTER XI.THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM."By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Hebrews 11:1-40

IV. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS CHAPTER 11 1. Faith in regard to creation and salvation (Hebrews 11:1-7 ) 2. The patience of faith (Hebrews 11:8-22 ) 3. The energy of faith (Hebrews 11:23-40 ) Hebrews 11:1-7 The disastrous effect of unbelief has been pointed out in the earlier part of this epistle (Hebrews 3:12 ; Hebrews 3:19 ; Hebrews 4:2 ) as well as the necessity of faith. After the great theme of the epistle, the sacrificial work and priesthood of Christ had been fully... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Hebrews 11:17

11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was {k} tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the {l} promises offered up his only begotten [son],(k) Tried by the Lord.(l) Although the promises of life were made in that only begotten son Isaac, yet he appointed him to die; and so against hope he believed in hope. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:1-40

This chapter in itself forms a complete division of the book of Hebrews. If previously the doctrine has been thoroughly laid down that faith is the principle of all actual relationship with God, now Ch. 11 provides from the Old Testament itself numerous examples of positive proof that faith is the one principle that produces real results for God in all ages. It is the experimental proof. And these examples of faith are the more remarkable when we consider that the dispensation of law did not... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-40

TRIUMPHS OF FAITH This lesson covers one of the many digressions alluded to and is first, an exhortation (Hebrews 10:19-25 ); secondly, a warning (Hebrews 10:26-31 ), and thirdly, an expression of comfort (Hebrews 10:32-39 ). This last touches on the principle of faith and gives occasion for an exhibition of its triumph in the lives of the Old Testament saints that makes the 11th chapter rank with the most notable in the Bible. The exhortation (Hebrews 10:19-25 ) keeps in mind that these... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Hebrews 11:1-40

Types of the Unseen Heb 11:3 Then they were made of things which do not appear, and if they were made of things which do not appear they must be in some way types of things unseen; that is to say, the thing moulded must be like the mould out of which it came. From this view of the case let us try to find our way at once to the truth, that the things which are seen may help us in some degree to understand the things which are not seen; it we pay attention to what is visible, we may get at... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Hebrews 11:17-19

(17) By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: (19) Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Most illustrious as this instance of the Patriarch's faith is, and highly to Abraham's honor, as God the Holy Ghost hath recorded it; I feel constrained to pass this view of it by, in... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:17

By faith Abraham....offered up Isaac; i.e. was ready and willing to do it, when Isaac was his only son, by whom God had promised to give him a numberless progeny, but by faith he considered that God, who had miraculously given him a son, could if he pleased raise him to life again. (Witham) read more