Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-3

Here we have, I. A definition or description of the grace of faith in two parts. 1. It is the substance of things hoped for. Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the object of our hope are the object of our faith. It is a firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised to us in Christ; and this persuasion is so strong that it gives the soul a kind of possession and present fruition of those things, gives them a subsistence in the soul, by the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 11:1-3

11:1-3 Faith means that we are certain of the things we hope for, convinced of the thing we do not see. It was because of faith that the men of old time had their record attested. It is by faith that we understand that the world was fashioned by the word of God, so that what is seen came into being out of what is unseen. To the writer to the Hebrews faith is absolutely certain that what it believes is true and that what it expects will come. It is not the hope which looks forward with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for ,.... The "faith" here spoken of is not a mere moral virtue, which is a branch of the law; nor a bare assent to anything revealed, declared, and affirmed in the Gospel; nor a faith of doing miracles; nor an implicit one; nor a mere profession of faith, which sometimes is but temporary; nor the word or doctrine of faith; but that which is made mention of in the preceding chapter, by which the just man lives, and which has the salvation of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:2

For by it the elders obtained a good report. By whom are meant, not merely old men, or elders in age, but such who lived in ancient times; some before the flood, and to a great age, and others who were in office, civil or ecclesiastical, and were the ancestors and predecessors of the Hebrews; who in general obtained or received a good report from God; that they were the chosen of God, and were justified and accepted with him; that they were the children and friends of God, and should be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God ,.... The celestial world, with its inhabitants, the angels; the starry and ethereal worlds, with all that is in them, the sun, moon, stars, and fowls of the air; the terrestrial world, with all upon it, men, beasts, &c.; and the watery world, the sea, and all that is therein: perhaps some respect may be had to the distinction of worlds among the Jews; See Gill on Hebrews 1:2 , though the apostle can scarce be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the substance of things hoped for - Εστι δε πιστις ελπιζομενων ὑποστασις· Faith is the Subsistence of things hoped for; πραγματων ελεγχος ου βλεπομενων· The Demonstration of things not seen. The word ὑποστασις , which we translate substance, signifies subsistence, that which becomes a foundation for another thing to stand on. And ελεγχος signifies such a conviction as is produced in the mind by the demonstration of a problem, after which demonstration no doubt can remain,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:2

For by it the elders obtained a good report - By the elders are meant ancestors, forefathers, such as the patriarchs and prophets, several of whom he afterwards particularly names, and produces some fact from the history of their lives. It is very remarkable that among the whole there is root one word concerning poor Adam and his wife, though both Abraham and Sarah are mentioned. There was no good report concerning them; not a word of their repentance, faith, or holiness. Alas! alas! did... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:3

Through faith we understand - By worlds, τους αιωνας , we are to understand the material fabric of the universe; for αιων can have no reference here to age or any measurement of time, for he speaks of the things which are Seen; not being made out of the things which do Appear; this therefore must refer to the material creation: and as the word is used in the plural number, it may comprehend, not only the earth and visible heavens, but the whole planetary system; the different worlds... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:1

Verse 1 1.Now faith, etc. Whoever made this the beginning of the eleventh chapter, has unwisely disjointed the context; for the object of the Apostle was to prove what he had already said that there is need of patience. (200) He had quoted the testimony of Habakkuk, who says that the just lives by faith; he now shows what remained to be proved — that faith can be no more separated from patience than from itself. The order then of what he says is this, — “We shall not reach the goal of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:2

Verse 2 2.For by it the elders, (203) etc. He handles this subject to the end of the chapter — that the fathers obtained salvation and were accepted by God in no other way than by faith. The Jews indeed had some reasons for paying great deference to the fathers; but a foolish admiration of the fathers had so prevailed among them, that it proved a great hindrance to a thorough surrender of themselves to Christ and to his government. It was occasioned either by ambition or superstition, or by... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-3

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 11:1-3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:2

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