By Faith
This chapter is considered a practical application of faith through example of some Old Testament faith heroes.
Commentary on The Epistle to the Hebrews, by Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
I would like to start with my thoughts regarding two of the words in this opening verse: substance, and evidence. Most people do not use such terms in the context of “faith.” They better understand the concept of faith through two other terms in this opening: hoped for and not seen.
We are told faith is substance and evidence: facts, verifiable, witnessed, demonstrated – good enough for a prosecution or defense in a courtroom. The prosecutor or defense attorney doesn’t go into a courtroom with a statement “I have no evidence, just trust me – I hope that you will take on faith that which is unseen.” But the author (again, assumed the apostle Paul), is saying this is precisely what faith is: evidence, substance.
St. John Chrysostom:
“Faith is a clear vision of things, and complete assurance of unseen things.”
Keeping in mind this letter is addressed to Christians of Hebrew origin:
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Their history proves this out, which will now be demonstrated with evidence from their past.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
One cannot accept Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word of God unless they first accept the fact that God created by His Word, and it is only through the Word who creates that the World which He created can be restored.
St. Athanasius:
“God is good, in other words, the goodness is in His essence... He created everything from nothing by His own Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
From here, the author examines these Old Testament men and women of faith.
St. John Chrysostom says that St. Paul wanted to reveal to them that the Jews have started their lives with God by faith in many ways, but unfortunately they completed in weakness by lukewarm hearts in faith.
Abel offered an excellent sacrifice, offering witness to his righteousness. Malaty offers a reason why Abel’s sacrifice was better than Cain’s:
Cain offered from the fruits of the earth, but God accepted the bloody sacrifice of Abel, because it carried the aroma of the Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross, and its shadow.
Abel’s sacrifice still speaks – his testimony cannot be suppressed even by his death.
Enoch did not see death; his body was not found as God took him straightaway because he had a testimony that pleased God. God is only pleased with testimony when it comes with faith demonstrated by those who diligently seek Him.
Noah believed in the divine warning, thereby saving his household.
Noah’s faith is a condemnation of the world which rejected entering the ark. For there is no salvation outside the ark, and no enjoyment of the new life except through the baptismal water.
I understand the ark as Christ.
Abraham went to the place where he would receive an inheritance. He went, not knowing where he would go. Abraham had no examples himself of such faith – he was from another land, not knowing about Abel or Enoch. He had no Law and no Prophet to guide him. He just went on faith because he was called.
St. John Chrysostom:
“His father was pagan and worshipped idols, he never heard of prophets, nor knew where to go.”
Sarah conceived seed by faith, though she was beyond age. Through her and an old man, a multitude like the stars was born.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
16(b) Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
St. John Chrysostom:
“What a great honor! He is called their Lord. He is glorified in them, those whom He calls Himself their God, that is, the righteous, the long sufferers and those who strive to attain virtues.”
God is glorified in these men and women of faith. I recall the work of Jonathan Edwards, writing that God created the world for His glory – that this was His ultimate purpose. This seems to be what John sees through this passage.
Once more, we come to Abraham:
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
This son of promise was to be offered up as a sacrifice. Abraham trusted without any doubt.
St. John Chrysostom:
“He heard the contrary of what was promised from the One who promised him. He obeyed without hesitation, as if God’s order was in harmony with the promises He has already gave him before.”
How could Abraham see this command in some way fulfilling God’s promise of multitudes like the stars? He and Sarah were too old when Isaac was born; what of now? Per the apostle Paul, Abraham knew that God, who created Isaac in a dead womb, could also raise him from the dead.
Isaac would next bless Jacob and Esau. He blessed Jacob first, even though he was born second.
This became like a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, who became the First-born of the dead, while the first Adam lost his position and is no more the first-born, because after Adam fell, he was not able to please God. But the Lord Jesus was the subject of the delight of the Father, in Him we enjoy to be God’s delight, and He is pleased with us.
Jacob, by faith, blessed each of Joseph’s sons. He switched hands, however, putting his right hand on the younger, Ephraim, and his left hand on the older, Manasseh. There is a sign of the cross in the switching of his hands.
Joseph is named next, making mention of the departure of the children of Israel when he was dying. He knew of the divine promise to Abraham, so he asked that when they leave, they also take his bones.
The parents of Moses were not afraid of the king’s command, hiding him for three months when he was born. Yes, Moses was a man of great faith, but it was only possible because of the faith of his parents.
Number three refers to the resurrection (the Lord Jesus rose on the third day). So when the baby reappears on the surface of water after these three months, he is drawn out of the water, to preserve life. This is a symbol of Christ’s resurrection, after the three days, to raise us with Him, with the power of His resurrection, for we were condemned to death.
Moses refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, instead choosing to suffer with God’s people.
St. John Chrysostom:
“Putting heaven before Moses made his admiration for the Egyptian palace very trivial.”
By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkling of blood – a symbol of the act of salvation of the Lord Jesus. By faith, they crossed the Red Sea as dry land; the Egyptians, following them, were drowned.
Since Moses and his people represent God’s kingdom, to which the road is opened through the baptismal water, then Pharaoh and his army represent Satan’s kingdom which is destroyed through the same baptismal water. Through baptism, the kingdom of Satan is destroyed in us, and will have no place therein, and the kingdom of heaven is risen in us.
By faith, the horns of Joshua’s “army” brought down the walls of Jericho.
St. John Chrysostom:
“Definitely, the voices of the trumpets cannot destroy the stones of the walls... but faith can do everything.”
Rahab received the spies by faith, thereby not perishing.
St. John Chrysostom:
“What a shame that we don’t have enough faith when compared to a harlot’s! She heard what the two spies said and believed!”
Paul quickly then moves through many other examples of faith. I was hoping for a comment by Malaty on Samson!
Conclusion
These are but actual living examples of works of faith, which the Old Testament people had lived. However, in the New Testament, the believer lives the life of faith with a new spiritual perspective.
By faith, we overcome Satan, we practice righteousness, we are strengthened in spite of our weaknesses.
Through faith we endure afflictions joyfully and we do not ask for temporary salvation but rather an eternal reward.