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

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.As was noted by Barmby,Commentators who perceive here a reference either to the formless void (Genesis 1:2) out of which the present creation was evolved, or a reference to the Platonic conception of eternal ideas in the divine mind, read into the text what is not there.[4]To be sure, "Aristotle held to the eternity of matter; and said that it was the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.ADAM; WHERE ART THOU?First of all, there is in this verse the glaring omission of the name of Adam, the mighty progenitor of the human race, neither he nor Eve, the mother of all living, being mentioned; and the circumstances that makes this omission so eloquent is that the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing to God.This verse casts a great deal of light on the Genesis account of the phenomenon of Enoch's translation. There, it is merely stated that God translated him, but here it is learned what translation meant, namely, that he was received into eternal fellowship with God without being obligated to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.Westcott noted that the faith described here has two elements: (1) the belief that God is, and (2) that he is morally active; in other words, it is a faith in the existence of God and in the moral government of God.[13] Furthermore, the expression "seek after him" as in the English Revised Version (1885), falls short of the... 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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:3

Hebrews 11:3. Through faith we understand, &c.— "By faith we understand that the worlds were adjusted by the word of God, and the several revolutions of them directed by the operations of his secret providence; as the whole universe was at first created by his power, wisdom, and goodness, and the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. It is certain that no visible cause could produce these things, which would be in effect to suppose them to have produced themselves:... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:4

Hebrews 11:4. Abel offered, &c.— The divine original sacrifice seems not only strongly insinuated, but plainly demonstrable from this place. It has been inferred from the words πλειονα θυσιαν,— which may be rendered a greater, or fuller sacrifice,—that Cain contented himself with presenting only the mincha,—a bread-offering without a victim; whereas Abel sacrificed both; and by presenting a lamb, shewed his faith in the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God. There can be no doubt from the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:5

Hebrews 11:5. And was not found,— "Any longer among the inhabitants of this lower world." The circumstances of Enoch's translation are not mentioned; but some have thought this to intimate that he was privately translated, and sought for as Elijah afterwards was. See 2Ki 2:17 and the passages in the margin. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please him:— This verse is added by the apostle, to complete his reasoning in that which precedes. He had there said, that God translated Enoch without dying, on accountof his faith. The proof alleged in that verse was only this, that Moses says He pleased God: still it remained to be proved that his pleasing God was an evidence that he had faith. To prove this, the apostle here adds, that it is impossible to please him without faith. The... read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:2

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:3

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:4

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:5

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 11:6

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

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:3

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:4

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:5

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 11:6

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