Hebrews 11:2 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 11:2

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-3

The nature and power of faith. In the close of the previous chapter, the apostle has spoken of faith as the principle of spiritual life, and the spring of patient endurance. He has quoted a great saying from Habakkuk, "The just shall live by faith;" and he now proceeds to vindicate its truth in a series of brilliant biographical illustrations. First of all, however, the apostle supplies a theoretic definition or description of saving faith. I. THE NATURE OF FAITH . (Verse 1)... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:2

For in this ( i.e. faith, ἐν ταύτῃ ) the elders obtained a good report ; literally were witnessed of ; i.e. it was in respect of their faith, which inspired their deeds, that they were praised. (For a similar use of the preposition ἐν , cf. 1 Corinthians 11:22 , ἐπαινέσω ἐν , τούτῳ ). Thus is introduced the illustrative review of Old Testament instances, the purpose of which has been explained above. It begins from the beginning, Abel being the first example. But... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:2

The great characteristic of the elders. I. THE TERM BY WHICH THEY ARE INDICATED . The elders. Those spoken of are these who had lived the life of the flesh centuries before, but the term is not used merely to indicate this fact. We know from the subsequent illustrations that the men of long ago are meant; but there is a much more comprehensive meaning in their being spoken of as πρεσβύτεροι . πρεσβύτερος is a relative word, its correlative being νεώτερος (see 1... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:2

For by it - That is, by that faith which gives reality to things hoped for, and a certain persuasion to the mind of the existence of those things which are not seen.The elders - The ancients; the Hebrew patriarchs and fathers.Obtained a good report - Literally, “were witnessed of;” that is, an honorable testimony was borne to them in consequence of their faith. The idea is, that their acting under the influence of faith, in the circumstances in which they were, was the ground of the honorable... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:2

Hebrews 11:2. By it the elders Our forefathers, or the pious of former ages; obtained a good report Εμαρτυρηθησαν , received testimony, of God’s approbation of them, or were borne witnesses to by God as persons accepted of him. The word is very comprehensive, implying that God gave a testimony, not only of them, but to them, and they received his testimony, as if it had been the things themselves, of which he testified, Hebrews 11:4-5; Hebrews 11:39. Hence they also gave testimony... 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 11:2

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 11:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 11:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 11:2

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