The following quotes reflect Reformation and modern-day Trinitarian focus on faith as an active, future-oriented trust in God, often at the expense of temporal comfort—themes central to Hebrews 11:26. Not one of these seminal scholars understood the verse as teaching the literal preexistence doctrine of Jesus Christ.

John Calvin (from his Commentary on Hebrews):

“Moses had that faith which made him prefer the reproach of Christ to the riches of Egypt. For though he did not yet know Christ in the flesh, he had a view of the promise concerning the Mediator, and he regarded the shame which he endured for the sake of God’s people as borne for Christ’s sake, because he looked to the fulfillment of that promise.”

• Calvin emphasizes that Moses’ faith was forward-looking, tied to the Messianic hope, even if not fully revealed in his time.

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Martin Luther (from his Lectures on Hebrews):

“Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times for it. Moses, by faith, despised the treasures of Egypt, for he saw the invisible God and the promise of something greater.”

• Luther connects Moses’ actions to a vibrant faith that trusts in God’s ultimate reward over earthly gain.

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F.F. Bruce – The Epistle to the Hebrews

“The ‘reproach of Christ’ which Moses bore is the reproach which he endured for his loyalty to God’s promise and purpose of salvation, a purpose which found its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Moses, by faith, aligned himself with the messianic hope, even if he did not know the name of Christ. The writer of Hebrews sees Christ as the goal of all Old Testament faith.”

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R.T. France – The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews

“Moses’ choice to suffer with God’s people rather than enjoy Egypt’s treasures is described as bearing ‘the reproach of Christ’ because the author sees Christ as the ultimate deliverer prefigured in Moses’ actions. This is a retrospective Christian interpretation of Moses’ faith.”

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George Guthrie – Hebrews (NIV Application Commentary)

“The writer of Hebrews uses ‘Christ’ to signify the messianic hope embedded in God’s covenant with Israel. Moses didn’t meet Jesus in a historical sense, but his faith in God’s promise of deliverance aligned him with the One who would embody that promise—Christ.”