“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,”
By faith Abraham, when put to the test (peirazō), offered up Isaac; he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son — the Akedah (Genesis 22) represents faith's supreme test. Abraham had received (komizō) the promise of Isaac's lineage; yet he was prepared (tolmao) to offer (prospherō) his only-begotten (monogenēs) son. This paradox of faith: willing to destroy the very promise God had given.
Church Fathers on Hebrews 11:17
Great indeed was the faith of Abraham. For while in the case of Abel, and of Noah, and of Enoch, there was an opposition of reasonings only, and it was necessary to go beyond human reasonings; in this case it was necessary not only to go beyond human reasonings, but to manifest also something more. For what was of God seemed to be opposed to what was of God; and faith opposed faith, and command promise. I mean this: He had said, “Get you out of your country, and from your…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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