11:1 Now 1 faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.
(1) An excellent description of faith by the effects, because
it represents things which are but yet in hope, and sets as
it were before our eyes things that are invisible.
11:22 For by it the a elders obtained a good report.
(2) He shows that the fathers ought to be accounted of by this
virtue.
(a) That is, those fathers from whom we came: and whose
authority and example ought to move us very much.
11:33 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed
by the word of God, so that things which are b seen were
not made of things which do appear.
(3) He shows the property of faith, by setting before us most
cautious examples of those who from the beginning of the
world excelled in the Church.
(b) So that the world which we see, was not made from any
matter that appeared or was before, but from nothing.
11:44 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he
was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he
being dead yet speaketh.
(4) Abel.
11:55 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not c
see death; and was not found, because God had translated
him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that
he pleased God.
(5) Enoch.
(c) That he should not die.
11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that]
he is a d rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(d) This reward is not referred to our merits, but to the
free promise, as Paul teaches in Abraham the father of
all the faithful, (Ro 4:4).
11:76 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen
as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of
his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became
heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
(6) Noah.
11:87 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a
place which he should after receive for an inheritance,
obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
(7) Abraham and Sarah.
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath e foundations, whose
builder and maker [is] God.
(e) This foundation is contrasted with their tabernacle.
11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as f
dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and
as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
(f) As unlikely to bear children, as if he had been dead.
11:13 These all died in g faith, not having received the h
promises, but having seen them afar off, and were
persuaded of [them], and i embraced [them], and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth.
(g) In faith, which they had while they lived, and
followed, them even to their grave.
(h) This is the figure metonymy, for the things promised.
(i) For the patriarchs were given to profess their
religion by building an altar and calling on the name
of the Lord when they received the promises.
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.
11:19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even
from the dead; from m whence also he received him in n
a figure.
(m) From which death.
(n) For there was not the true and very death of Isaac,
but as it were the death, by means of which he seemed
also to have risen again.
11:208 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning
things to come.
(8) Isaac.
11:219 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the
sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of
his staff.
(9) Jacob.
11:2210 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the
departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment
concerning his bones.
(10) Joseph.
11:2311 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three
months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a proper
child; and they were not o afraid of the king's
commandment.
(11) Moses.
11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of
God, than to enjoy the p pleasures of sin for a season;
(p) Such pleasures as he could not enjoy, unless he
provoked God's wrath against him.
11:2912 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry
[land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
(12) The Red Sea.
11:3013 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they
were compassed about seven days.
(13) Jericho.
11:3114 By faith the q harlot Rahab perished not with them
that believed not, when she had received the r spies
with peace.
(14) Rahab.
(q) A notable example of God's goodness.
(r) Courteously and friendly, so that not only did she not
hurt them, but also kept them safe.
11:3215 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me
to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and
[of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the
prophets:
(15) Gideon, Barak and other judges and prophets.
11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained s promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
(s) The fruit of the promises.
11:35t Women received their dead raised to life again: and
others were u tortured, not accepting deliverance; that
they might obtain a better resurrection:
(t) He seems to mean the story of that woman of Sarepta,
whose son Elijah raised again from the dead, and the
Shunammite, whose son Elisha restored to his mother.
(u) He means that perfection which Antiochus wrought.
11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted,
were slain with the sword: they wandered about in x
sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted,
tormented;
(x) In vile and rough clothing, so were the saints brought
to extreme poverty, and constrained to live like
beasts in the wilderness.
11:3916 And these all, having obtained a good report through
faith, received y not the promise:
(16) An amplification taken from the circumstance of the time:
their faith is so much the more to be marvelled at, by how
much the promises of things to come were more dark, yet at
length were indeed exhibited to us, so that their faith
and ours is as one, as is also their consecration and
ours.
(y) But saw Christ afar off.
11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they
z without us should not be made perfect.
(z) For their salvation depended on Christ, who was
exhibited in our days.
