New Testament Commentary - Hebrews Chapter 11

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
              CHAPTER 11

By faith we understand the word and work of God—Faith of the ancients was centered in Christ—By faith men subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, and worked miracles.

 F A I T H

  1 NOW afaith is the bsubstance of things choped for, the devidence of things not seen.
  2 For by it the elders aobtained a good breport.
  3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were aframed by the bword of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appeara.
 3a so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear This is an awkward translations. What is being stipulated here is a statement against evolution, that things of God's creation and organization by the exercise of God's wisdom and faith DID NOT fall naturally from things that were before. Rather, God by his wisdom and faith did form man and the higher things of this earth in a manner which preempted any natural evolution and were formed and based upon a design higher and worked by faith to not be from that which was and did appear before. That is, man did not evolve from a branch of the ape family. Man was designed and 'created' by God after that design by faith which was after the form and image of God, not from anything that had appeared naturally from the earth.

 A B E L   ~   E N O C H   ~   N O A H

  4 By faith aAbel offered unto God a more excellent bsacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
  5 By faith aEnoch was btranslated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this ctestimony, that he pleased God.
  6 But without afaith it is impossible to please him: for he that bcometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a crewarder of them that ddiligently eseek him.
  7 By faith aNoah, being bwarned of God of things not seen as yet, cmoved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the drighteousness which is by faith.

 A B R A H A M

  8 By faith aAbraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an binheritance, cobeyed; and he went out, not dknowing whither he went.
  9 By faith he asojourned in the bland of cpromise, as in a strange country, dwelling in dtabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
  10 For he looked for a acity which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 S A R A

  11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
  12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in a multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
  13 These all died in faith, not having received the apromises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were bstrangers and pilgrims on the earth.
  14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a acountry.
  15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
  16 But now they desire a better acountry, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

 A B R A H A M

  17 By afaith Abraham, when he was btried, coffered up Isaac: and he that had received the cpromises offered up his only begotten son,
  18 Of whom it was said, That in aIsaac shall thy bseed be called:
  19 aAccounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

 I S A A C   ~   J A C O B   ~   J O S E P H

  20 By faith Isaac ablessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
  21 By faith aJacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
  22 By faith aJoseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

 M O S E S

  23 By faith aMoses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a bproper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
  24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the ason of Pharaoh's daughter;
  25 Choosing rather to asuffer affliction with the bpeople of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
  26 Esteeming the areproach of Christa greater briches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
 26a Exteeming the reproach of Christ Did Moses know concerning Jesus Christ in his day? Of course he did, as did all of the prophets. They all taught of Christ, even that his name was to be Jesus. To attest this fact one need but read the first book of Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea's Eccleseastical History, and that Moses did name Aaron and the son of Nun by the very names of the Messiah, Aaron the Anointed and the son of Nun as Jehoshua/Joshua which is the Hebrew of the name of Jesus (Eusebius, EH, Book I Chapter 3 paragraphs 2-4). Also the JST in the first Book of Moses does attest that Adam, Enoch and Noah knew of the Messiah by name, Jesus Christ (Moses 6:52, 7:47 & 50, Moses 8:16 & 23-24). Further the Book of Mormon does so state that all of the ancient prophets did prophesy of the Christ to come 1 Nephi 1:19, Jacob 4:4-5, etc.). And for this they were so persecuted, stoned and even killed as even Lehi of the Book of Mormon so left Jerusalem under that same threat. Only the Jewish leadership did deny the Christ, the same as in the day of Jesus as they did in the days of Lehi and the other prophets who did teach of Christ (Matthew 1:22-23, Matthew 2:23, Luke 18:31, John 1:45, Acts 3:18, etc.). The common people did look to the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, and that his name was to be Jehoshua/Jesus.
  27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
  28 Through faith he kept the apassover, and the sprinkling of bblood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
  29 By faith they passed through the Red asea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
  30 By faith the awalls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
  31 By afaith the harlot bRahab perished not with cthem that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
  32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of aBarak, and of Samson, and of bJephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
  33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained apromises, stopped the mouths of blions,
  34 Quenched the violence of afire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made bstrong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
  35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting adeliverance; that they might obtain ba better resurrection:
  36 And others had trial of acruel bmockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
  37 They were astoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
  38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
  39 And these all, having obtained a agood breport through faith, received not the promise:
  40 aGod having bprovided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made cperfect.
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