Now these words-'it was regarded as righteousness'-were not written with reference to Abraham only;
Whatever was written in the Scriptures in days gone by was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance, and through the encouragement drawn from the Scriptures, we might hold fast to our hope.
These things happened to them by way of warning, and were recorded to serve as a caution to us, in whose days the close of the ages has come.
Now these things happened as warnings to us, to teach us not to long for evil things as our forefathers longed.