Hebrews 11:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For by it the people of old received their commendation.

NIV: This is what the ancients were commended for.

NASB: For by it the people of old gained approval.

CSB: For by it our ancestors won God’s approval.

NLT: Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

KJV: For by it the elders obtained a good report.

NKJV: For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

The "it" referred to here is faith—a trusting reliance on God. In context, this is not mere "belief," in an intellectual sense. Nor is it a blind assumption. Rather, it's a choice to follow God with confidence, even when we don't fully know what lies ahead. The famous figures listed later in this chapter are among those "people of old" who are commended on the basis of their faith.

A recurring theme in the book of Hebrews is that God had always intended to replace the old covenant with the new covenant (Hebrews 8:6–7). Using various quotations from Scripture, the writer explained that animal sacrifices and rituals were never meant to be our ultimate answer for sin. On the contrary, those were merely symbols of a "true" salvation found in Christ (Hebrews 9:11–12). This makes faith, not works, the method of salvation for those living in the era of the old covenant, just as much as for those living in the era of the new covenant.

As this chapter continues, the writer will explain how the examples of figures such as Abraham, Moses, Gideon, and Rahab prove that God was responding to their faith. Their obedience and actions were products of saving faith, not the cause of their salvation. God honored their actions, but did so because of the faith which produced those works.

Hebrews 11:1–3 defines faith using words which are frequently quoted, and also frequently misunderstood. As with the rest of the book of Hebrews, context is critical. In this passage, the writer demonstrates that godly faith is really ''trust.'' What we have seen of God's nature and character should lead us to trust Him, and trust naturally leads to obedience. This is not an endorsement of ''blind faith,'' especially since it comes after a lengthy discourse full of evidence and logic. Instead, the writer presents the idea of ''faith'' as a confident look to the future, based on reliance on God's promises. The next two sections of Hebrews will present God's acceptance of faith and actions which prove it.

True, godly faith is defined as trust, relying on God when looking to the future, and obeying even when we don't fully understand all details. The great figures of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Moses, and David, all lived according to this type of faith. Ultimately, that means trusting God's intent to make good on His promises from an eternal perspective. The model of faith presented by those people, in light of the struggles they faced, ought to inspire Christians towards a more confident, purposeful faith.

Up to this point, the book of Hebrews has given extensive evidence proving that Jesus Christ, and the new covenant He brought about, is God's ultimate plan for mankind's salvation. Chapter 10 provided an additional warning about the danger of falling away from this truth. Chapter 11 begins by clarifying the meaning of the word ''faith,'' primarily by listing examples of Old Testament figures who exemplify it. The ultimate application of this knowledge should be a motivation to ''hold fast'' to the gospel, despite hardships. That encouragement is a major theme of chapter 12.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.