Bullet Point Bible - Hebrews 11

The Nature and Foundation of Faith

¹ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.² For by it the people of old received God's commendation.³ By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

This section provides a foundational definition of faith (Greek: *pistis*) for the entire chapter.
Faith is presented not as blind hope, but as confident assurance and conviction regarding unseen realities.
"Assurance" (hypostasis) implies a firm foundation or substance.
"Conviction" (elenchos) suggests proof or evidence regarding things not perceived by the senses.
The "saints of old" (literally "elders") received God's approval or testimony (*emartyrēthēsan*) because of their faith.
Faith enables understanding of creation *ex nihilo* (out of nothing) by God's word (*rhēmati theou*).
The visible universe originates from the invisible spiritual realm, a concept understood through faith, not empirical observation alone.
This definition sets the stage for the subsequent examples of faith in action.
The author connects faith directly to understanding God's fundamental work as Creator.
This passage establishes that faith is both cognitive (understanding creation) and volitional (trusting in promises).

Faith of the Earliest Generations

⁴ By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.⁶ Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.⁷ By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Abel's faith was demonstrated through the quality of his offering, which God recognized as superior (Genesis 4:4).
God's commendation confirmed Abel's righteous standing, achieved through faith.
Abel's faith continues to "speak" as a timeless example, even after his death.
Enoch's faith resulted in an extraordinary end: being "taken up" (*metatithēmi*) by God, bypassing physical death (Genesis 5:24).
Enoch's commendation was that he "pleased God," highlighting the relational aspect of faith.
Verse 6 provides a crucial theological principle: faith is essential for pleasing God.
Pleasing God requires belief in His existence (*hoti estin*) and His character as a rewarder (*misthapodotēs*) of those who diligently seek Him.
Noah's faith involved trusting God's warning about an unprecedented future event (the flood) and acting obediently.
His "reverent regard" (eulabeia) combined fear/awe with careful obedience in building the ark.
Noah's faithful action served as a condemnation of the unbelieving world and secured his status as an heir of faith-based righteousness.

Faith of Abraham: Call and Promise

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.⁹ By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.¹¹ By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.¹² So in fact children were fathered by one man-and this one as good as dead- like the number of stars in the sky and like the innumerable grains of sandonthe seashore .

Abraham's faith is exemplified by his obedience to God's call, leaving his homeland for an unknown destination (Genesis 12:1-4).
His willingness to go "without knowing where he was going" underscores trust in God's guidance over personal security.
He lived as a temporary resident (*paroikos*) in the very land promised to him, demonstrating faith in a future fulfillment.
Living in tents symbolized the transient nature of his earthly existence compared to the permanence of God's promise.
Isaac and Jacob shared this pilgrim lifestyle as co-heirs of the same divine promise.
Abraham's ultimate hope was not earthly Canaan but a heavenly "city with firm foundations," designed and built by God.
Sarah's faith involved trusting God's promise of a child despite her advanced age and barrenness (Genesis 17:19, 18:11-14, 21:1-2).
Her faith focused on the faithfulness (*pistos*) of God who made the promise.
Abraham, considered "as good as dead" reproductively, became the father of innumerable descendants through God's power, fulfilling the promise (Genesis 15:5, 22:17).
This section highlights faith as obedience to God's call, patient endurance in waiting for promises, and trust in God's power to overcome natural limitations.

Faith Seeking a Heavenly Homeland

¹³ These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.¹⁴ For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.¹⁵ In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.¹⁶ But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

This section reflects on the collective experience of the patriarchs mentioned earlier.
They died "in faith," maintaining their trust even though they did not see the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises during their lifetimes.
Their faith allowed them to perceive and embrace the promises from afar.
They acknowledged their status as "strangers and foreigners" (*xenoi kai parepidēmoi*) on earth, indicating their true citizenship was elsewhere.
Their lifestyle and confession demonstrated a longing for a true "homeland" (*patris*).
They consciously chose not to return to their earthly origins (like Ur), showing their commitment to God's call.
Their aspiration was for a "better," "heavenly" homeland, superior to any earthly place.
Because of their faith-driven longing for Him and His kingdom, God is "not ashamed" to be identified as their God.
God honored their faith by preparing the heavenly "city" they looked forward to (v. 10).
This passage emphasizes the eschatological orientation of Old Testament faith.

Faith Tested and Passed Down

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.¹⁸ God had told him, " Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name ,"¹⁹ and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.²⁰ By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.²¹ By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshipedas he leaned on his staff .²² By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.

Abraham's ultimate test of faith was his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, the son through whom the promise was to be fulfilled (Genesis 22).
The tension is highlighted: he who received the promises was asked to sacrifice the very means of their fulfillment.
God's specific promise regarding Isaac ("{{Through Isaac your descendants will be named}}", Genesis 21:12) made the test even more profound.
Abraham's faith included the conviction (*logisamenos*) that God could resurrect Isaac, demonstrating belief in God's power over death.
Receiving Isaac back was seen as a type or "figure" (*parabolē*) of resurrection.
Isaac's faith was shown in blessing his sons regarding their future destinies, trusting God's sovereign plan (Genesis 27).
Jacob, nearing death, demonstrated faith by blessing Joseph's sons (Ephraim and Manasseh), acknowledging God's future work, and worshiping (Genesis 48; Genesis 47:31 LXX).
Joseph's faith looked beyond his own life and prosperity in Egypt; he confidently spoke of the future Exodus and requested his bones be carried to the Promised Land (Genesis 50:24-25).
This section shows faith being tested severely and passed down through generations, focusing on God's future promises.

Faith of Moses and the Exodus Generation

²³ By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king's edict.²⁴ By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,²⁵ choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure.²⁶ He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.²⁷ By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.²⁹ By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.

Moses' parents acted in faith, defying Pharaoh's decree by hiding their infant son, recognizing something special about him (Exodus 2:2).
Moses, upon maturity, demonstrated faith by renouncing his privileged Egyptian status (Exodus 2:10-11).
His faith involved a conscious choice: identifying with God's oppressed people over temporary worldly advantages ("sin's fleeting pleasure").
He considered the "disgrace for the sake of Christ" (or "the Messiah," *ton oneidismon tou Christou*) more valuable than Egypt's riches. This likely refers to the reproach associated with God's future anointed plan and people.
His motivation was the future "reward" (*misthapodosia*) from God.
Moses' departure from Egypt (likely referring to the Exodus, not his earlier flight) was an act of faith, trusting God despite Pharaoh's power.
His perseverance (*ekarterēsen*) was fueled by focusing on the unseen God.
Faith led Moses to institute the Passover rituals, trusting God's promise of protection through the blood (Exodus 12).
The Israelites collectively exercised faith by crossing the Red Sea, trusting God's power to part the waters (Exodus 14).
The Egyptians' destruction highlighted the difference between faith-filled obedience and presumptuous imitation.

Faith Amidst Trials and Victories

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days.³¹ By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.³³ Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,³⁴ quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight,³⁵ and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.³⁶ And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.³⁷ They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated³⁸ (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.

The fall of Jericho exemplifies faith expressed through seemingly illogical obedience to God's specific commands (Joshua 6).
Rahab's faith saved her from the destruction of Jericho; her actions (welcoming spies) demonstrated her trust in Israel's God (Joshua 2, 6). She is noted despite being a Gentile and a prostitute.
The author uses rhetorical questions (*ti gar legō*) and lists key figures rapidly due to time constraints, showing the breadth of faith's examples.
The list includes judges (Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah), a king (David), a prophet/judge (Samuel), and other prophets.
Verses 33-34 summarize the victories achieved through faith: military conquest, just rule, receiving promises, deliverance from danger (lions, fire, sword), empowerment in weakness.
Verse 35a mentions miraculous restorations (like those by Elijah and Elisha, 1 Kings 17, 2 Kings 4).
Verses 35b-38 shift focus to faith demonstrated through suffering and endurance, not just victory.
Some faithful individuals faced torture, refusing release (*apolytrosis*) to attain a "better resurrection" (likely eternal life with God).
The list details intense suffering: mocking, flogging, imprisonment, stoning, being sawn apart (a tradition about Isaiah), execution, poverty, affliction.
The statement "the world was not worthy of them" elevates the status of these persecuted believers above their persecutors.
Their faith sustained them even in extreme hardship and marginalization.

Faith's Fulfillment Deferred but Assured

³⁹ And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.⁴⁰ For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.

This concluding section summarizes the experience of all the Old Testament figures mentioned.
Although they received God's approval ("commended," *martyreō*) for their faith, they did not experience the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise during their earthly lives.
The "promise" ultimately points towards the blessings realized through Christ and the New Covenant.
God's plan included "something better" (*kreitton ti*) for New Covenant believers ("us").
This "better thing" involves the completed work of Christ and the blessings that flow from it.
The Old Testament saints' perfection (*teleioō*) is linked to that of New Testament believers; fulfillment is communal and finds its climax in Christ.
Their faith looked forward to what believers after Christ experience more fully.
This provides encouragement to the Hebrew readers to persevere, as they are part of this grand culmination of God's plan.
The chapter implicitly urges the readers to emulate this faith, now with the fuller revelation and reality of Christ.

The Bullet Point Bible

Hebrews 11