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

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:6

The impossibility of pleasing God without faith. "But without faith it is impossible to please him," etc. The fact that Enoch walked by faith, and that his life was well pleasing to God, suggested to the writer this general axiom on the indispensableness of faith in order to secure the Divine complacency. Two principal observations will bring before us the chief teaching of our text. I. THE APPROACH OF THE SOUL TO GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR PLEASING HIM .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:6

Faith needed to please God. I. IT IS , THEN , POSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD . Some there are who care nothing whether he be pleased or not. God's will, God's delight in the obedience of men, never enters into their thoughts. They live to please themselves. They can even understand that some object may be served by trying to please other men. And yet those who live for self-pleasure are sure to be disappointed. God has meant our pleasure to come through first of all pleasing him.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:1

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 Testament more important than this, for it states what is the nature of all true faith, and is the only definition of it which is attempted in the Scriptures. Eternal life depends on the existence and exercise of faith Mark 16:16, and hence, the importance of an accurate understanding of its nature. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:2

For by it - That is, by that faith which gives reality to things hoped for, and a certain persuasion to the mind of the existence of those things which are not seen.The elders - The ancients; the Hebrew patriarchs and fathers.Obtained a good report - Literally, “were witnessed of;” that is, an honorable testimony was borne to them in consequence of their faith. The idea is, that their acting under the influence of faith, in the circumstances in which they were, was the ground of the honorable... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:3

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed - The first instance of the strength of faith which the apostle refers to is that by which we give credence to the declarations in the Scriptures about the work of creation; Genesis 1:1. This is selected first, evidently because it is the first thing that occurs in the Bible, or is the first thing there narrated in relation to which there is the exercise of faith. He points to no particular instance in which this faith was exercised - for... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered - see Genesis 4:4-5. In the account in Genesis of the offering made by Abel, there is no mention of “faith” - as is true also indeed of most of the instances referred to by the apostle. The account in Genesis is, simply, that Abel “brought of the firstlings of his flock, and the fat thereof, and that the Lord had respect to Abel and his offering.” Men have speculated much as to the reason why the offering of Abel was accepted, and that of Cain rejected; but such... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was translated - The account of Enoch is found in Genesis 5:21-24. It is very brief, and is this, that “Enoch walked with God, and was not, for God took him.” There is no particular mention of his “faith,” and the apostle attributes this to him, as in the case of Abel, either because it was involved in the very nature of piety, or because the fact was communicated to him by direct revelation. In the account in Genesis, there is nothing inconsistent with the belief that Enoch was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him - Without “confidence” in God - in his fidelity, his truth, his wisdom, his promises. And this is as true in other things as in religion. It is impossible for a child to please his father unless he has confidence in him. It is impossible for a wife to please her husband, or a husband a wife, unless they have confidence in each other. If there is distrust and jealousy on either part, there is discord and misery. We cannot be pleased with a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1. 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 apostle had endeavoured to support them in their adherence to Christ and his cause by suggesting the declaration whereby the prophet Habakkuk had directed and encouraged the Jews on the approach of the Chaldean invasion, namely, the just shall live by faith. He now proceeds to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:2

Hebrews 11:2. By it the elders Our forefathers, or the pious of former ages; obtained a good report Εμαρτυρηθησαν , received testimony, of God’s approbation of them, or were borne witnesses to by God as persons accepted of him. The word is very comprehensive, implying that God gave a testimony, not only of them, but to them, and they received his testimony, as if it had been the things themselves, of which he testified, Hebrews 11:4-5; Hebrews 11:39. Hence they also gave testimony... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:2

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