hebrews-11:1-2,-hebrews-11:20-niv

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:1

DIVISION VI(Hebrews 11:1-40)A DISCUSSION OF FAITH;SOME CITATIONS OF OLD TESTAMENT EXEMPLARS OF FAITH;THEY WERE NOT MADE PERFECT APART FROM USNow faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)The preoccupation of scholars with their view of making this verse a logical definition of faith has resulted in the rendition before us, which is certainly no improvement on the KJV, and would even seem to be capricious, since the word translated "assurance" is the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:2

For therein the elders had witness borne to them.Therein means "in faith just like that mentioned." "The elders" are the great and worthy patriarchs of the past, particularly of the Hebrew scriptures; and the "witness borne to them" is the witness of the scriptural records concerning them. Significantly, not a soul is mentioned in this chapter whose life was not verified by holy writ. It is what God writes of a man that alone is significant and consequential. Before proceeding with his... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:1-2

Hebrews 11:1-2. 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 cannot but be proper here to acquaint you what that faith is, of which I speak. It is such a firm persuasion, as gives, as it were, a substance or present existence to the good things which we hope for, and which are not yet in being; and as engages us to depend upon the truth of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:1

1. Description of the great things which faith (in its widest sense: not here restricted to faith in the Gospel sense) does for us. Not a full definition of faith in its whole nature, but a description of its great characteristics in relation to the subject of Paul's exhortation here, namely, to perseverance. substance, c.—It substantiates promises of God which we hope for, as future in fulfilment, making them present realities to us. However, the Greek is translated in Hebrews 3:14,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:2

2. For—So high a description of faith is not undeserved; for . . . [ALFORD]. by it—Greek, "in it": in respect to . . . in the matter of," it, "or, as Greek more emphatically, "this." the elders—as though still living and giving their powerful testimony to the reasonableness and excellence of faith ( :-). Not merely the ancients, as though they were people solely of the past; nay, they belong to the one and the same blessed family as ourselves (Hebrews 11:39; Hebrews 11:40). "The elders," whom... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 11:1

Essentially faith is confidence that things yet future and unseen will happen as God has revealed they will. This is the basic nature of faith. Hebrews 11:1 describes faith rather than defining it."This word hypostasis ["assurance," NASB] has appeared twice already in the epistle. In Ch. Hebrews 1:3 the Son was stated to be the very image of God’s hypostasis; in Ch. Hebrews 3:14 believers are said to be Christ’s associates if they hold fast the beginning of their hypostasis firm to the end. In... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 11:1-7

1. Faith in the Antediluvian Era 11:1-7The writer began by stating three facts about faith. These are general observations on the nature of faith, some of its significant features. He then illustrated God’s approval of faith with examples from the era before the Flood. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 11:1-13

IV. THE PROPER RESPONSE 11:1-12:13"In chapter Hebrews 10:22-25 there were three exhortations, respectively to Faith, Hope and Love. These are elaborated in turn: chapter 11 dealing with Faith; chapter 12 with Hope; chapter 13 with Love." [Note: Thomas, p. 140.] In this fourth major section of the epistle, the writer concentrated on motivating his readers to persevere in their faith with steadfast endurance. He continued the idea that he introduced in Hebrews 10:35-39. Some writers do not... read more

Thomas Constable