Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.
faith - "Faith is described in this great verse as the assurance (or reality, the same word translated 'nature' in 1:3) of things hoped for, the conviction (as in John 16:8) of things not seen. Faith gives reality and proof of things unseen, treating them as if they were already objects of sight rather than of hope. (Ryrie)
men of old - the OT patriarchs and heroes
"Having proved from the Scriptures that the 'rest and 'the good things' of the New Covenant are secured and held by faith, the Holy Spirit now illustrates the activities of faith. Verse 1 is not a definition of faith but a declaration of its actions. It makes promises present and real and unseen things visible. So the promises respecting Canaan were real to Abraham and to Isaac, Jacob and Joseph though they were wanderers, and all died without getting them (v 13). Similarly Abel saw the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world; Enoch saw his Divine companion (v 6); Noah saw the coming Flood; Abraham saw the city which hath the foundations; Moses saw Him Who is invisible; women saw 'a better resurrection,' and they all saw the 'better thing' which God provided for them (v 40)." (Williams)
"The mention of a faith that is answered by salvation (10:39), leads the writer to speak about it now in detail. The word 'faith' occurs without the article here, indicating that it is treated in its abstract conception, not particularly as New Testament faith. Vincent says, 'It is important that the preliminary definition be clearly understood, since the following expamples illustrate it. The key is furnished by verse 27, as seeing him who is invisible. Faith apprehends as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses. It rests on that fact, acts upon it, and is upheld by it in the face of all that seems to contradict it. Faith is real seeing.'" (Wuest)
"Variously referred to as the 'Faith Chapter' or the 'Christian's Hall of Fame,' chapter eleven does provide a definition of the word 'faith' and then lists many historical examples of people who demonstrated their faith; but there are not Christians in the chapter and therefore one must ask: faith in what? Faith must have an object. Faith, in and of itself, is insufficient. Israel had faith in the covenants given by Jehovah, while our faith is in Christ's payment for our sins. The Hebrew people performed as a product of their faith, while we trust Christ's performance on our behalf with our faith, and that without works (Rom 11:6; Titus 3:5). For Israel, just as James wrote to them, faith without works is dead (James 2:18-20). For the Body of Christ, we are saved unto good works, not because of them (Eph 2:8-10) ... Israel had faith that it would have righteous standing by keeping the laws and statues Jehovah had provided (Deut 6:25; Rom 10:5). Our faith does not rest in the law but in Christ (Rom 10:4). That means the object of one's faith matters. We are not under the law, but under grace (Rom 6:14); and so the object of our faith is not the law, but Christ. Israel's faith was to live by the law Jehovah God had provided them." (McLean)
faith - "Faith is described in this great verse as the assurance (or reality, the same word translated 'nature' in 1:3) of things hoped for, the conviction (as in John 16:8) of things not seen. Faith gives reality and proof of things unseen, treating them as if they were already objects of sight rather than of hope. (Ryrie)
men of old - the OT patriarchs and heroes
"Having proved from the Scriptures that the 'rest and 'the good things' of the New Covenant are secured and held by faith, the Holy Spirit now illustrates the activities of faith. Verse 1 is not a definition of faith but a declaration of its actions. It makes promises present and real and unseen things visible. So the promises respecting Canaan were real to Abraham and to Isaac, Jacob and Joseph though they were wanderers, and all died without getting them (v 13). Similarly Abel saw the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world; Enoch saw his Divine companion (v 6); Noah saw the coming Flood; Abraham saw the city which hath the foundations; Moses saw Him Who is invisible; women saw 'a better resurrection,' and they all saw the 'better thing' which God provided for them (v 40)." (Williams)
"The mention of a faith that is answered by salvation (10:39), leads the writer to speak about it now in detail. The word 'faith' occurs without the article here, indicating that it is treated in its abstract conception, not particularly as New Testament faith. Vincent says, 'It is important that the preliminary definition be clearly understood, since the following expamples illustrate it. The key is furnished by verse 27, as seeing him who is invisible. Faith apprehends as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses. It rests on that fact, acts upon it, and is upheld by it in the face of all that seems to contradict it. Faith is real seeing.'" (Wuest)
"Variously referred to as the 'Faith Chapter' or the 'Christian's Hall of Fame,' chapter eleven does provide a definition of the word 'faith' and then lists many historical examples of people who demonstrated their faith; but there are not Christians in the chapter and therefore one must ask: faith in what? Faith must have an object. Faith, in and of itself, is insufficient. Israel had faith in the covenants given by Jehovah, while our faith is in Christ's payment for our sins. The Hebrew people performed as a product of their faith, while we trust Christ's performance on our behalf with our faith, and that without works (Rom 11:6; Titus 3:5). For Israel, just as James wrote to them, faith without works is dead (James 2:18-20). For the Body of Christ, we are saved unto good works, not because of them (Eph 2:8-10) ... Israel had faith that it would have righteous standing by keeping the laws and statues Jehovah had provided (Deut 6:25; Rom 10:5). Our faith does not rest in the law but in Christ (Rom 10:4). That means the object of one's faith matters. We are not under the law, but under grace (Rom 6:14); and so the object of our faith is not the law, but Christ. Israel's faith was to live by the law Jehovah God had provided them." (McLean)
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