John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 6:12

"that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." — Hebrews 6:12 (ASV)

But followers, or imitators, etc. He opposes imitation to sluggishness; it is then the same as if he said that constant eagerness of mind was needed; but it carried far more weight, when he reminded them, that the fathers were not made partakers of the promises except through the unconquerable firmness of faith; for examples convey to us a more powerful impression of things.

When a naked truth is set before us, it does not affect us as much, as when we see what is required of us fulfilled in the person of Abraham. But Abraham’s example is referred to, not because it is the only one, but because it is more illustrious than any other.

For though Abraham had this faith in common with all the godly, yet it is not without reason that he is called the father of the faithful. It is, then, no wonder that the Apostle selected him from all the rest and turned the eyes of his readers toward him as the clearest mirror of faith.

Faith and patience, etc. What is meant is, a firm faith, which has patience as its companion. For faith is what is chiefly required; but since many who at first make a marvelous display of faith soon fail, he shows that the true evidence of that faith which is not fleeting and vanishing is endurance. By saying that the promises were obtained by faith, he removes the idea of merits; and still more clearly by saying that they came by “inheritance”; for we are made heirs in no other way than by the right of adoption.