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Summarized Bible Commentary

Hebrews 11:1-40

Contents: Superiority of the way of faith. Instances of faith.

Characters: God, Christ, Abel, Cain, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, Pharaoh's daughter, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel.

Conclusion: Faith is the firm persuasion that God will perform all that He has promised to us in Christ, and brings the soul a present fruition and foretaste of eternal things, which sets a seal that God is true. The way of faith is the way of victory, peace, assurance, and endurance.

Key Word: Faith, Hebrews 11:1.

Strong Verses: Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:6.

Striking Facts: Hebrews 11:2; Hebrews 11:39. The effect of faith with God is «good reputation.» Is it any wonder that God cannot be pleased when men are devoid of that trust in His Word and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent, which receives Him as Savior and Lord and impels to obedience and good works?

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See also Hebrews 11:1-40 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    HEBREWS 11:1 u`po,stasij( pragma,twn {A} The scribe of î13, a third or fourth century papyrus copy, thoughtlessly wrote pragma,twn avna,stasij. 8 -------------------------...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XI. _A definition of faith_, 1, 2. _What are its immediate objects_, 3. _What are its effects, instanced in Abel_, 4 _In Enoch_, 5, 6. _In Noah_, 7. _In Abraham_, 8-10....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR - On the general nature of faith, see the notes on Mark 16:16. The margin here is, “ground or confidence.” There is scarcely any verse of the New Testame...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    IV. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS CHAPTER 11 _ 1. Faith in regard to creation and salvation (Hebrews 11:1)_ 2. The patience of faith (Hebrews 11:8) 3. The energy of faith (Hebrews 11:23

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    HEBREWS 11:1 F. The chapter opens with a definition of faith as the assurance whereby we lay hold of things still in the future, and the proving_ i.e._ the inward certainty which is stronger than any...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CHRISTIAN HOPE (Hebrews 11:1-3)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Faith means that we are certain of the things we hope for, convinced of the thing we do not see. It was because of faith that the men of old time had their record attested. It is by faith that we unde...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    FAITH. Greek. _pi_ stis. App-150. SUBSTANCE. Greek. _hupostasis._ See Hebrews 1:3 and 2 Corinthians 9:4. Used of title-deeds in the Papyri. EVIDENCE. proof. Greek. _elenchos._ Only here and...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Now faith_ Since he has said "we are of faith to gaining of the soul," the question might naturally arise, What then is faith? It is nowhere defined in Scripture, nor is it defined here, for the writ...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἜΣΤΙΝ ΔῈ ΠΊΣΤΙΣ. “_But faith_ IS &c.” Since he has said “we are _of faith_ to gaining of the soul,” the question might naturally arise, What then is faith? It is nowhere defined in Scripture, nor is i...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    CH. 11. THE HEROES OF FAITH The main task of the writer has now been performed, but the remainder of the Epistle had also a very important purpose. It would have been fatal to the peace of mind of a J...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _AN EXPLANATION OF SAVING FAITH -- HEBREWS 11:1-3 :_ The writer described that faith whereby the just man lives in these words, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΣΤΙΝ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΕΊΜΊ (G1510) быть. Эмфатическое положение слова может указывать на стиль определения (Michel). ΠΊΣΤΙΣ (G4102) вера. Это терпеливое ожидание и преданность тому, что Христос...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2317 THE NATURE OF FAITH Hebrews 11:1. _Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen_. CONSIDERING how much the Scriptures speak of faith, one is surpris...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE, &C.— These verses may be paraphrased thus: "As I have now observed, that faith avails to the salvation of the soul, and intend, in the next place, largely to prove it; it c...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART THREE _THE NATURE, DEVELOPMENT AND DUTIES OF FAITH. Hebrews 11:1 to Hebrews 13:25_ I. _The nature of faith. Hebrews 11:1-3_ _TEXT_...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    THE EXCELLENCY OF FAITH (Hebrews 11:1-3) Ere we take up the contents of the 11th chapter let us briefly review the sound already covered. Chapter s 1 and 2 are more or less introductory in their char...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. FAITH - in its widest sense: not restricted to faith in the Gospel. Not a definition of faith in its whole nature,...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 Faith is neither "substance" nor "evidence", as is the usual rendering of this passage. The word "substance" is changed to "confidence" in most later translations, as this word seems to agree with i...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    11:1 substantiating (f-5) Or 'assurance,' 'firm conviction.' see ch. 3.14....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HEROES OF FAITH The Achievements of Faith, illustrated from the annals of Israel, beginning with the patriarchs and coming down to the martyrs. The writer has already mentioned faith as a necessary co...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    RV renders, 'Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen.' The word represented here by 'assurance' is rendered 'substance' in Hebrews 1:3; RV and 'confidence' in He...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW CAN I GET TO HEAVEN? HEBREWS _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 11 5 THE BETTER WAY 11:1-13:25 THE WAY OF TRUST AND HOPE 11:1-40 THE MEANING OF *FAITH (TRUST IN GOD) 11:1-3 V1 *Faith, that is, trust...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    We have seen how the writer approached the subject which is the chief theme of this last division of this Epistle. The coming of the Lord, for judgment upon His adversaries, for salvation to His peopl...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER X. FAITH AN ASSURANCE AND A PROOF. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen. For therein the elders had witness borne to them. By faith we understand t...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις … “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof [manifestation] of things not seen”. When ἔστι stands first in a sentence it sometimes means “there exists,”...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FAITH'S TRIUMPHS FROM ABEL TO ABRAHAM Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the _sixth_ sense. It makes us as sure of unseen or future things, which we know about only through the divine Word, as we are of things wh...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Then follows a series of illustrations of the power of faith taken from the history of the Hebrew people. The first is that by faith men know that the ages have been fashioned by the Word of God. Afte...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    UNDERSTANDING FAITH"Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1 A.S.V.). It appears the King James translators got the full meaning of the word "substanc...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Now (1) faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (1) An excellent description of faith by the effects, because it represents things which are but yet in hope, and...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    All this chapter is a commendation and recommendation of faith, which is the substance [1] of things hoped for, giving as it were a substance in our minds to such things as we are in hopes and in expe...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS Here is the Record of Old Testament Saints, who lived and died, triumphant in Faith. The sweet Assurance to New Testament Believers that they, and all the Faithful, will together be made per...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The apostle now resumes his great theme, Christ called a Priest of God for ever after the order of Melchisedec. He alludes, in the beginning of our chapter, to the historical facts of Genesis. We must...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _PROGRESS IN RELIGIOUS CONVICTION_ ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ Hebrews 11:1 All religious conviction proceeds from God and cannot proceed from...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._Now faith, etc. _Whoever made this the beginning of the eleventh chapter, has unwisely disjointed the context; for the object of the Apostle was to prove what he had already said ­that there is nee...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    It is not a definition of this principle, that the epistle gives us at the commencement of Chapter 11, but a declaration of its powers and action. Faith realises (gives substance to) that which we hop...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR,.... The "faith" here spoken of is not a mere moral virtue, which is a branch of the law; nor a bare assent to anything revealed, declared, and affirmed...

  • John Owen’s Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews(7 vols)

    The first verse gives such a description of the nature of faith, as evidenceth its fitness and meetness unto the effecting of the great work assigned unto it, namely, the preservation of believers in...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Ver. 1. _Now faith is the substance_] Having mentioned the life of faith, Hebrews 10:38, and the end of faith (or the...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    HEB. 11:1. NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. _ Blank Bible: _ "Vid. No. 66 - the word ?p?stas?? here used signifies confidence in 2 Corinthians 9:4; 2 C...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Knowing that the believing Hebrews had been, and still were exposed to persecution on account of the gospel, and fearing lest they should be thereby cast down, and moved from their steadfastness, the...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    At the close of the preceding chapter, mention was made of "them that believe to the saving of the soul." Now follows a description of faith and an illustration of its power from the example of the an...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A WONDERFUL EPIC ON THE POWER OF FAITH. Faith as a trust in that which is invisible and future:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    NOW, FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    This chapter in itself forms a complete division of the book of Hebrews. If previously the doctrine has been thoroughly laid down that faith is the principle of all actual relationship with God, now C...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    SUBSTANCE: Or, ground, or confidence...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-3 Faith always has been the mark of God's servants, from the beginning of the world. Where the principle is planted by the regenerating Spirit of God, it will cause the truth to be received, concer...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBGrk; HERBREWS CHAPTER 11 HEBREWS 11:1 The nature of faith, and its acceptableness with God, set forth in the examples of many excellent persons of old time. NOW FAITH: the Holy Spirit proceeds in t...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book II "For hereby," pre-eminently, "the elders obtained a good report. But without faith it is impossible to please God."[21] Tertullian On the Apparel of Women Book...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Hebrews 11:1 Now G1161 faith G4102 is G2076 (G5748) substance G5287 for G1679 (G5746) evidence G1650 things...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    TRUE FAITH IS FAITH IN GOD'S PROMISES (HEBREWS 11:1). Hebrews 11:1, ‘Now faith is assurance (hupostasis - ‘the substance' or ‘the underpinning' and therefore the ‘assurance', the ‘guarantee within the...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    CHAP. Hebrews 11:1. Having affirmed that our distinguishing quality as Christians is not apostasy, but faith, and that the issue in our case is not perdition, but the gaining of that life of the soul...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    NOW FAITH IS (εστιν δε πιστις). He has just said that "we are of faith" (Hebrews 10:39), not of apostasy. Now he proceeds in a chapter of great eloquence and passion to illustrate his point by a re...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 11:1 Faith and Things Hoped for and Unseen. I. Faith appears at first sight a very simple thing; it is nothing else but believing the word of God. We know what it is to receive the word of a...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 11:1 Abel, Enoch, Noah. Before the flood and the Abrahamic covenant God had a people on earth who lived by faith. Abel, the first martyr, Enoch, the seventh from Adam, and Noah, the preacher...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    This is the triumphal arch of faith. Here we find the names of many of the heroes of faith, and a brief record of some of the battles in which they fought and conquered. May you and I possess «like pr...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 11:1. _Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report._ The names of those who lived in old time are handed down...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    This is a very familiar chapter, but it is none the less precious. It is the roll of the heroes of faith. Here you have a list of the men who believed in God, and who therefore did great things. Hebr...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    These men, of whom we are now briefly to read, are a company of God's witnesses; and the apostle calls them, in the next chapter, «a cloud of witnesses,» who, from their lofty seats above, are watchin...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    In this chapter we read of the wonders of faith; but I have never read a chapter setting forth the wonders of unbelief. Unbelief is barren impotent, a mere negation, a dead and accursed thing; but fai...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    First, a definition of faith. Hebrews 11:1. _Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    This is the Arc de Triomphe erected to the memory of the heroes of faith, whose names are here recorded by the apostle's inspired pen, with a brief mention of some of their most memorable actions. If...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Hebrews 11:1. _Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elder obtained a good report._ So it was written, in the olden time, that believers «obta...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Hebrews 11:1. _Now faith is the substance of things hoped for._ Paul uses here the same Greek word as in Hebrews 1:3, that the Son is the express image of the Father's _hypostasis,_ or person. Then fa...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    TO HAVE FAITH. See note on James 2:19 about the nature of faith. TO BE SURE. Faith is the foundation on which all our hopes for the future are built. TO BE CERTAIN. Faith makes us able to treat as _re...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 11:1 ASSURANCE. Or “confidence” (Hebrews 3:14). HOPED FOR. On hope, see...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    ILLUSTRATIONS OF FAITH AS A PRACTICAL POWER IN LIFE _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ THIS chapter contains a series of illustrations, taken from the heroic ages of Hebrew history, of the nature and in...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION HEBREWS 11:1 NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE _ _OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN. On the senses in which the word ὑπόστασις (translated "substance") may be used, see unde...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Hebrews, chapter 11: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). This is not so much a definition of faith as it is the declaration of what faith d...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 1:8; 2 Corinthians 11:17;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Faith [π ι σ τ ι ς]. Without the article, indicating that it is treated in its abstract conception, and not merely as Christian faith. It is important that the preliminary definition should be clearly...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    FAR-FLUNG VISIONS A New Year's Study Hebrews 11:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Another New Year has come to us freighted with every possibility of life and service. At such a time as this it is natural for u...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE PLACE OF FAITH Hebrews 11:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Unbelief is black with the frown of God; faith is regnant with the smile of God. Unbelief closes every channel of blessing; faith opens up the cha...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE LIFE OF FAITH Hebrews 11:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. Faith defined. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews opens with something that is very definite it is a definition of faith. "Now faith is the substan...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The definition of faith given in this verse, and exemplified in the various instances following, undoubtedly includes justifying faith, but not directly as justifying. For faith justifies only as it r...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, 1. The thing described, or the subject spoken of, and that is faith; that faith whereby the just man lives, the apostle here speaks of, though not as justifying, but as it is effectually...

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