Hebrews 11:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

NIV: By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away." For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

NASB: By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE God TOOK HIM UP; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God.

CSB: By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.

NLT: It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying — 'he disappeared, because God took him.' For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

KJV: By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

NKJV: By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The writer of Hebrews is explaining how faith leads to God's blessings. The first set of examples used are meant to show that God rewards those who seek Him, despite not having a crystal-clear understanding of how or when His promises will be fulfilled. The first example given was that of Abel, who offered God an acceptable and faithful sacrifice (Genesis 4:3–5). Even though Abel was killed by his jealous brother, Cain (Genesis 4:8–10), God honored Abel's faith, and his story has become a useful lesson for us all.

Here, the writer offers a drastic contrast in Enoch. So far as we can tell from his appearance in the book of Genesis, Enoch did not experience physical death—instead, he was "taken" by God (Genesis 5:23–24). While Abel suffered the worst possible end to his earthly experience, being violently murdered, Enoch never had to die at all. The example given by Enoch is that he so "walked with God" that he was taken before death. Crucially, the writer of Hebrews points out that it was Enoch's faith which motivated his behavior.

The contrast between Abel and Enoch is important. Both are recipients of God's acceptance, though their earthly lives came to radically different ends. The theme of this part of Hebrews is that faith "looks forward" despite incomplete knowledge. Though we cannot see all ends, here and now, God is moving towards an eventual fulfillment of all promises. What happens during our earthly lives is only a part of that process, not the end of it. As a result, believers are not guaranteed success in the mortal world.

Hebrews 11:4–16 gives examples of figures from the Old Testament who demonstrated faith in God and were blessed as a result. Persons such as Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah are commended for their trust in God's promises. In particular, this segment of the book of Hebrews focuses on those who heard from God, obeyed, and were blessed. While their actions are important, the common theme of these early references is obedience to God when fulfillment of His promises seems distant. The following passage will explore a similar idea, but in the context of those who demonstrated faith in the face of more immediate hardship.

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.