Moved with fear,— This instance is fully to the apostle's purpose; because it is evident, from what Noah actually did, that he had a real faith in the being and revelations of God. His faith in God's threatening an universal deluge moved his fear,— ευλαβεια, his religious fear, and reverential regard to God,—(ch. Hebrews 12:28.) so strongly, that it actually influenced him to prepare a method for the saving himself from the destruction which was coming upon mankind. His faith was truly the evidence, or conviction of things unseen: he was, in his day, a preacher of righteousness; while all the world about him were grown desperately wicked. When he warned them of the universal deluge, they would not believe his prediction; therefore the flood came, and swept them all away. Noah's faith then condemned the unbelievers, in the same sense as every good man's holiness, virtues, and exhortations condemn such, as will not attend to and imitate him. The unbelievers were condemned by Noah, as he carefully avoided their practice, which he justly looked upon to be evil, and as their sins were aggravated upon the account of his repeated admonitions. See Titus 3:11. 1 Peter 3:20. By this same faith he became an heir of that righteousness which is by faith. And, when the apostle says, that by faith Noah became heir of the righteousness which is by faith, he is not guilty of any tautology; but plainly means that Noah, by his own personal faith, became heir of the righteousness which is reckoned to every one who has real faith, or, to every believer. Bishop Cumberland observes, that Noah is the first to whom the name of righteous man is applied in scripture.
Related Commentaries of Hebrews 11:7
Hebrews 11:7
7 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.