hebrews-11:1-6,-hebrews-11:2-niv

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

The creation of the visible universe. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed," etc. The text suggests: 1. That God existed before the visible universe. As the architect must have lived before the edifice which he designed was built, so he who designed and "built all things" existed before any of his creations. "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world," etc. 2. That God ' s existence is distinct from and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

Faith beginning where science ends. In the first verse of the chapter things not seen are spoken of. Faith is the evidence of these things not seen. There can be no other evidence, for things not seen are eternal; they are beyond the ken of our senses; if we cannot be certified of them by spiritual intuitions, we cannot be certified of them at all ( 2 Corinthians 4:18 ). But the things that are seen have also to be dealt with; we want to know the connection of the seen with the unseen;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which ( i.e. faith, not sacrifice, "faith" being the ruling idea of the whole passage) he obtained witness (literally, was witnessed of ) that he was righteous, God testifying of (literally, witnessing upon, or, in respect to ) his gifts: and through it ( faith ) he being dead yet speaketh. In the traditions preserved in Genesis of the dim and distant antediluvian period, three... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4

The sacrifice of Abel. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice," etc. The text brings before our notice three chief points. I. THE SUPERIORITY OF ABEL 'S SACRIFICE . "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain." This superiority was manifest: 1. In the sacrifice which was offered. In itself Abel's sacrifice was "more excellent" than that of Cain. In endeavoring to ascertain in what respect it was more excellent, it seems to us... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4

The faith of Abel. I. In his action there was NO RELATION MEASURABLE BY HUMAN REASON BETWEEN MEANS AND ENDS . Where something is done perceptible to the senses, and the result is also perceptible to the senses, then reason can see that there is a relation between means and ends. But here, while the something done is perceptible to the senses, the result is in no way perceptible to any natural faculty of man. To the pure rationalist, the killing of a beast in sacrifice... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4-7

Faith of the antediluvian saints. The apostle, having gone to the first page of the Bible for the foundation-doctrine of faith, has only to turn the leaf to find his first historical illustrations. I. THE EXAMPLE OF ABEL . ( Hebrews 11:4 ) In what respect was Abets sacrifice "more excellent" than Cain's? 1. Some answer—Because its materials were more valuable, and also more carefully selected. Cain presented an oblation el vegetables, taking the first that came to hand;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God ; literally, hath been witnessed of that he had been well-pleasing to God. The allusion is, of course, to the testimony in Genesis ( Genesis 5:24 ), the LXX . being closely followed, which has, εὐηρέστησεν ἐνὼχ τῷ θεῷ καὶ οὐχ ηὑρέσκετο διότι μετέθηκεν ἀυτον ὁ θεός , whereas the literal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:5

The character and the translation of Enoch. "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death," etc. That Enoch should immediately succeed Abel in this record of the ancient heroes of faith is not a little significant. How remarkable is "the contrast between the fate of Abel and Enoch! The one was crushed to the earth by the hand of a brutal and ferocious murderer; the other was conveyed to heaven, most likely by the ministry of some benevolent intelligence. The one met death in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:5

The faith of Enoch. Of Enoch we know next to nothing in one sense. We are ignorant of the details of his life; not even one great striking event is preserved to us. But of the great principle and result of his life we are not ignorant, and it is quite permissible for us to make conjectures by way of illustration. In considering what is here said, we must notice the order of the argument. I. WHAT HAPPENED TO ENOCH . He was translated so as not to see death. This must have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. The purpose of this verse, in connection with the conclusion of the last, is to show that the Scripture record does imply faith in Enoch, though there is no mention of it there by name: it is of necessity involved in the phrase, εὐηρέστεσε τῷ θεῷ . The expression in the Hebrew, "walked with God" (be it observed), involves... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:4-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:6

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