SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:8
Por la fe, Abraham siendo llamado, obedeci para salir al lugar que había de recibir por heredad; y sali sin saber a dnde iba.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 11:8
Verse 8. Abraham, when he was called] See on Gen. xii. 1-4. Not knowing whither he went.] Therefore his obedience was the fullest proof of his faith in God, and his faith was an implicit faith; he obeyed, and went out from his own country, having no prospect of any good or success but what his implicit faith led him to expect from God, as the rewarder of them that diligently seek him. In all the preceding cases, and in all that follow, the apostle keeps this maxim fully in view.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. By faith, Abraham, when he was called , etc..] 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 father's house; which was an emblem of the call of God's people out from among the men of the world, and from their friends, relations, and acquaintance, and even out of themselves; and as Abraham was called from Ur of the Chaldees, so they from darkness, bondage, idolatry, and communion with wicked men; that, as he, they might not perish with idolaters, being chosen vessels, and for whom God has peculiar blessings in store: and so the grace of God is seen in calling them, without any respect to their deserts, as in calling Abraham: and the care and goodness of God may be observed, in raising up fit instruments to propagate his cause and interest. Now Abraham, being called to go out into a place ; from Ur of the Chaldees, to the land of Canna; which he should afterwards receive for an inheritance ; not in his own person, but in his seed and posterity, unless after the resurrection, in the New Jerusalem church state, and which inheritance was typical of heaven; obeyed the divine call; and which was a fruit and evidence of his faith, and may he called the obedience of faith: and he went out, not knowing whither he went : for though he went forth to go into the land of Canaan, and into the land of Canaan he came, ( Genesis 12:5), yet, when God called him to go forth, and he prepared to obey his call, he knew not what land he was to go into; for it is only said, ( Genesis 12:1), unto a land that I will show thee : upon which words a Jewish commentator has this note; he (God) did not immediately make known the land unto him, that so it might be lovely in his eyes; and it is, elsewhere, said by the Jews f235 , that Abraham came from Aspamia (i.e. Mesopotamia), and its companions, kyh [dwy hyh alw , and he knew not where he was, as a man that is in the dark; all which agrees with our apostle: and, from hence, it may be observed, that God sometimes leads his people in ways they have not known, though they are known to him, and are always right; and that it is the property of faith to follow God, when it cannot see its way; and a great mercy it is to have God for a guide. This also shows, that Abraham's faith agrees with the apostle's definition of it, ( Hebrews 11:1).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-19 - We are often called to leave worldly connexions, interests, an comforts. If heirs of Abraham's faith, we shall obey and go forth though not knowing what may befall us; and we shall be found in the way of duty, looking for the performance of God's promises. The trial of Abraham's faith was, that he simply and fully obeyed the call of God Sarah received the promise as the promise of God; being convinced of that, she truly judged that he both could and would perform it. Many who have a part in the promises, do not soon receive the thing promised. Faith can lay hold of blessings at a great distance; can make them present; can love them and rejoice in them, though strangers; a saints, whose home is heaven; as pilgrims, travelling toward their home. By faith, they overcome the terrors of death, and bid a cheerfu farewell to this world, and to all the comforts and crosses of it. An those once truly and savingly called out of a sinful state, have n mind to return into it. All true believers desire the heavenl inheritance; and the stronger faith is, the more fervent those desire will be. Notwithstanding their meanness by nature, their vileness be sin, and the poverty of their outward condition, God is not ashamed to be called the God of all true believers; such is his mercy, such is his love to them. Let them never be ashamed of being called his people, no of any of those who are truly so, how much soever despised in the world. Above all, let them take care that they are not a shame an reproach to their God. The greatest trial and act of faith upon recor is, Abraham's offering up Isaac, Ge 22:2. There, every word shows trial. It is our duty to reason down our doubts and fears, by looking as Abraham did, to the Almighty power of God. The best way to enjoy ou comforts is, to give them up to God; he will then again give them a shall be the best for us. Let us look how far our faith has caused the like obedience, when we have been called to lesser acts of self-denial or to make smaller sacrifices to our duty. Have we given up what wa called for, fully believing that the Lord would make up all our losses and even bless us by the most afflicting dispensations?
Greek Textus Receptus
πιστει 4102 καλουμενος 2564 5746 αβρααμ 11 υπηκουσεν 5219 5656 εξελθειν 1831 5629 εις 1519 τον 3588 τοπον 5117 ον 3739 ημελλεν 3195 5707 λαμβανειν 2983 5721 εις 1519 κληρονομιαν 2817 και 2532 εξηλθεν 1831 5627 μη 3361 επισταμενος 1987 5740 που 4226 ερχεται 2064 5736
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Paul exhibits faith as the element of personal righteousness in Abraham. In these verses (8-22) faith, according to the opening definition in this chapter, is that assurance and conviction of unseen things which caused Abraham and the patriarchs to rely confidently upon the future fulfillment of the divine promises.
When he was called to go out - obeyed (kaloumenov exelqein uphkousen). A.V. is wrong. jExelqein to go out should be construed with uJphkousen obeyed, and kaloumenov being called is to be taken absolutely. Kaloumenov, the present participle, indicates Abraham's immediate obedience to the call: while he was yet being called. Rend. "when he was called obeyed to go out." The infinitive explains the more general obeyed, by specifying that in which his obedience was shown. For the construction, see Acts xv. 10; 1 Thess. i. 9; Heb. v. 5. For the narrative, see Gen. xii. 1-6, and comp. Acts vii. 2-5.
Whither he went (pou ercetai). Note the picturesque continued present tense, "whither he is going," as of Abraham on his journey.
