HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:1 ASSURANCE. Or “confidence” (Hebrews 3:14). HOPED FOR. On hope, see Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 6:18; Hebrews 10:23. CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN. Faith is a settled confidence that something in the future—something that God has promised—will actually happen because God will m... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:3 God created the UNIVERSE by his WORD. The wording SO THAT WHAT IS SEEN WAS NOT MADE OUT OF THINGS THAT ARE VISIBLE is consistent with the doctrine of creation “from nothing.” Compare Genesis 1:1; Psalms 33:6, Psalms 33:9; Psalms 90:2; John 1:3;... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:4 COMMENDED AS RIGHTEOUS. The acceptance of Abel’s offering (Genesis 4:4, Genesis 4:7) showed God’s acceptance of the person (see Genesis 4:7). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:5 ENOCH WAS TAKEN UP. Genesis 5:21 indicates that Enoch did not die. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:6 TO PLEASE HIM. The Greek Septuagint translation of Genesis 1:1 states that certain patriarchs “pleased God” (translating the Hebrew phrase for “walked with God”): Enoch (Genesis 5:22, Genesis 5:24), Noah (Genesis 6:9), Abraham (Genesis 17:1;... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:7 NOAH. See Genesis 6:9. EVENTS AS YET UNSEEN. See Hebrews 11:1. REVERENT FEAR. See Hebrews 5:7 and Hebrews 12:28, where such an attitude is also commended. CONDEMNED THE WORLD. Noah’s righteous obedience to God showed how sinful the world was to reject Noah’s message (com... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:8 God called ABRAHAM to leave Haran and go to Canaan (Genesis 12:1). INHERITANCE. Compare Hebrews 9:15. NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING. See Hebrews 11:1. LAND OF PROMISE. See Genesis 15:18. On God’s promises, see... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:11 SARAH. See Genesis 21:1. Sarah first laughed, apparently in unbelief (Genesis 18:9). However she later believed, as her laughter expressed joy at Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21:6), whose name means “laughter.” CONSIDERED HIM FAITHFUL. See Hebrews 10:23. STARS... SAND. A refe... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:13 DIED IN FAITH. They were faithful until they died. NOT HAVING RECEIVED. Abraham and Sarah were called to a Promised Land and promised many offspring. They believed these promises while moving from place to place in a land not wholly theirs. They believed that their fami... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:14 The people he has mentioned in vv. Hebrews 11:1 were seeking a BETTER (HEAVENLY) COUNTRY. This was their true HOMELAND. PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY. See v. Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 13:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:17 ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TESTED (see Genesis 22:1). For “tested,” see note on Heb. 4:15. Here it means testing to strengthen faith. See also Hebrews 2:18 (compare James 1:2, James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:6;... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:20 ISAAC. See Genesis 27:1. These promised FUTURE BLESSINGS (especially Genesis 27:28, Genesis 27:39) show Isaac’s hope for the future. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var image [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:21 JACOB. See Genesis 48:8. Similar to Isaac, Jacob’s future hope was based on God’s promises (see Genesis 48:3). This hope is clear in his blessing of his sons (Genesis 49:1) and the SONS OF JOSEPH (Ephraim and Manasseh, Genesis 48:8). ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:22 JOSEPH. Joseph’s future hope was that God would give his people the Promised Land. That is why Joseph wanted his BONES to be moved to that land (Genesis 50:24). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:23 The parents of MOSES preserved his life in hope. BEAUTIFUL. See Exodus 2:2; Acts 7:20. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:24 MOSES refused the privileges of Egypt, including those of being THE SON OF PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER (Exodus 2:10). Instead he identified with God’s people (Exodus 2:11). He sought God’s reward (Hebrews 10:35; Hebrews 11:6). FLEETING PLEASURES OF SIN. Contrasted with eternal r... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:27 BY FAITH HE LEFT EGYPT could refer to Moses fleeing Egypt for Midian (but see Exodus 2:14) or to the exodus. It could also continue the description of Moses’ decision to stand with God’s people rather than the Egyptians. He “left,” or “abandoned,” all that Egypt represe... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:28 BY FAITH HE KEPT THE PASSOVER. Moses celebrated the Passover before God delivered Israel from Egypt (Exodus 12:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:29 It took faith to walk through the RED SEA with walls of water on each side (Exodus 14:10). The people had to rely on God’s promise (Exodus 14:1, Exodus 14:15). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.g [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:30 At JERICHO, the Israelites followed God’s commandment before receiving the promised victory (Joshua 6:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:31 Before the destruction of Jericho (v. Hebrews 11:30; see Joshua 2:1), RAHAB showed remarkable faith, since she was a Gentile and a sinner (PROSTITUTE). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.lengt [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:32 Despite their sins, GIDEON (Judges 6:1), BARAK (Judges 4:1), SAMSON (Judges 13:1), and JEPHTHAH (Judges 11:1) demonstrated faith in the one true God at key moments in their lives. THE PROPHETS. Old Testament prophets who either wrote the OT Prophetic Books or appe [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:33 ENFORCED JUSTICE. Or “worked righteousness.” This was an especially important role of the judges (see 1 Samuel 7:15) and the king (see 2 Samuel 8:15; compare Jeremiah 23:5). OBTAINED PROMISES. God kept all the promises he made to Israel’s leaders (for example, Judges 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:34 QUENCHED THE POWER OF FIRE likely refers to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 2:49). ESCAPED THE EDGE OF THE SWORD. See 1 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 6:31; Jeremiah 36:26; and contrast Hebrews 11:37. MADE STRONG OUT OF WEAKNESS [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:35 WOMEN RECEIVED BACK THEIR DEAD BY RESURRECTION. E.g., Elijah (1 Kings 17:17), and Elisha (2 Kings 4:18). RISE AGAIN TO A BETTER LIFE. Literally, “obtain a better resurrection,” a final one, to eternal life. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = documen [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:36 MOCKING... IMPRISONMENT. Much like some of the first readers of Hebrews 1:1 endured (Hebrews 10:32; Hebrews 13:3). This would especially remind readers of Jeremiah’s suffering (see Jeremiah 20:2; Jeremiah 37:4,... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:37 STONED... SAWN IN TWO. These probably represent the traditional accounts of the deaths of Jeremiah and Isaiah. Other prophets were also stoned (2 Chronicles 24:21; Matthew 23:37; see Luke 11:49; Luke 13:33). KILLED WITH THE SWORD. Some believers escape death ... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:38 DENS AND CAVES. Especially associated with prophets in hiding (1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:13; 1 Kings 19:9). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:39 COMMENDED THROUGH THEIR FAITH. See vv. Hebrews 11:2, Hebrews 11:4. DID NOT RECEIVE WHAT WAS PROMISED. These people of faith looked for a greater future hope (v. Hebrews 11:16). In light of chs. Hebrews 1:1, SOMETHING BETTER FOR US refers to the new covenant realities of... [ Continue Reading ]