Hebrews 11:3

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Hebrews 11:3

(3) Through faith.—Rather, By faith, as in the following verses. The first place is not given to “the elders,” for the writer’s object is to set forth the achievements of faith. With these, he would say, the Scripture record is filled. Even where there is no mention of this principle we must trace it in the lives of God’s servants; even where there is no history of men, there is a necessity for the exercise of faith by ourselves, and the first words of Scripture teach this lesson.That the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Hebrews 11:1-40

The Beginning of Faith Hebrews 11:1 As we hear these words we seem to penetrate down through all the differences and distinctions of outward forms and ceremonies to that which lies at the very root and foundation of religion the sense that beyond and behind the visible there is an invisible; that all that we see is but a reflection, a broken image of an unseen Divine ideal; that all around us and above us and within us there are mighty agencies ever working, regulating, creating, controlling... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-3

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 that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which do appear."-- Hebrews 11:1-3 (R.V.).It is often said that one of the greatest difficulties in the Epistle to the Hebrews is to discover any real connection of ideas between the author’s... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Hebrews 11:1-40

IV. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS CHAPTER 11 1. Faith in regard to creation and salvation (Hebrews 11:1-7 ) 2. The patience of faith (Hebrews 11:8-22 ) 3. The energy of faith (Hebrews 11:23-40 ) Hebrews 11:1-7 The disastrous effect of unbelief has been pointed out in the earlier part of this epistle (Hebrews 3:12 ; Hebrews 3:19 ; Hebrews 4:2 ) as well as the necessity of faith. After the great theme of the epistle, the sacrificial work and priesthood of Christ had been fully... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Hebrews 11:3

11:3 {3} Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are {b} seen were not made of things which do appear.(3) He shows the property of faith, by setting before us most cautious examples of those who from the beginning of the world excelled in the Church.(b) So that the world which we see, was not made from any matter that appeared or was before, but from nothing. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:1-40

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 Ch. 11 provides from the Old Testament itself numerous examples of positive proof that faith is the one principle that produces real results for God in all ages. It is the experimental proof. And these examples of faith are the more remarkable when we consider that the dispensation of law did not... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-40

TRIUMPHS OF FAITH This lesson covers one of the many digressions alluded to and is first, an exhortation (Hebrews 10:19-25 ); secondly, a warning (Hebrews 10:26-31 ), and thirdly, an expression of comfort (Hebrews 10:32-39 ). This last touches on the principle of faith and gives occasion for an exhibition of its triumph in the lives of the Old Testament saints that makes the 11th chapter rank with the most notable in the Bible. The exhortation (Hebrews 10:19-25 ) keeps in mind that these... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Hebrews 11:1-40

Types of the Unseen Heb 11:3 Then they were made of things which do not appear, and if they were made of things which do not appear they must be in some way types of things unseen; that is to say, the thing moulded must be like the mould out of which it came. From this view of the case let us try to find our way at once to the truth, that the things which are seen may help us in some degree to understand the things which are not seen; it we pay attention to what is visible, we may get at... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-3

(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 word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. The Church of God can never be sufficiently thankful to the Holy Ghost, for this most precious Chapter. It forms a compendium of the most blessed things, all leading to Jesus. The ancient fathers of the Church,... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

The faith so highly commended here is not that special faith of sectarists, by means of which persons of various and contradictory tenets pretend to assure themselves that their sins in particular are pardoned for Christ's sake, but a firm and lively belief of all that God has revealed or promised. read more

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