15. 'E/A^/AOVSUOV, they had remembered) They had forgotten, by faith. — xaipbv, a time) an opportunity, during so many years.
16. Ovx f^raiff^vsrat) God is not ashamed, although they are inhabitants of the earth, and strangers : lie is not ashamed, be cause He has bestowed on them great blessedness, such as it becomes God to confer, and has fulfilled the promises which were made to them ; therefore, not only is He not ashamed, but derives praise from it [glories in it]. A Meiosis. Or also, He is not ashamed, because they eagerly grasp at it (opsyovrai) ; pro vided that it does not seem (only it must not be thought) as if God's good pleasure (in them) was the meritorious consequence of their obedience. — IcnxaXs/frda/, to be called) [to have Himself called.] A verb in the middle voice. First, He called Him self, then they so called Him: the GOD of Abraham, etc. — croX/v, a city) in which He Himself reigns. [How great may ive suppose the splendour to be that must belong to it, since it is God Himself who shows it I — V. g.]
17. npoffsvyvoxev, offered) as far as it depended upon him. — rbv povoytvy, only-begotten) in respect of his wife Sarah, and of the promises. Abraham sent away his other sons. — o) This word augments the subject, as 6, ch. vii. 4. — avadegdpevos, he who embraced) likewise by faith.
18. Upbg ov, as to whom) The pronoun is to be referred to the only-begotten; nay, this verse gives a definition of the only-begotten. Ilpbs, so far as concerns, has the force of limitation (determining the sense). The word had been spoken to Abraham, but re ferred to Isaac ; comp. npbg, unto, in reference to, Luke xix. 9.
19. Ka/ ex vsxpSiv eys/peiv dwarbg, was able to raise him even from the dead) although no example had hitherto occurred of the dead being raised. In like manner Paul commends the faith of Abraham, Rom. iv. 17, 21. He reckoned (was firmly assured) that, if Isaac had been sacrificed, who had not yet wife nor children, he could notwithstanding be raised from the dead, and thus the promises would be fulfilled in him. — o&sv, ivhence) [wherefore.'] An illative particle [not, from which state, i.e. from the dead]. — xai sv vapa(3o\ri exo/j,iffaro, also he in a parable [or figure~\ bore1 [* tulit'] him) sv irapafioXy, namely, uv. There is an
1 Wahl explains ix,opiaa,To the middle : He received his son recovered from death as a reward of his faith. — ED.