By James Riley Strange, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religion, Samford University
Victorious Faith
Hebrews 11:1–6
Today’s passage is one of the most famous and beloved statements about faith in the Bible. Because it is so well-known, it is a good idea to read it with fresh eyes. It also should be read in its context, so read Hebrews 10:32–12:2. It will become clear that the author is writing to Christians in the first century Roman world who are suffering persecution, and he is worried that some will renounce their faith and perhaps some already have (see 10:32–36).
Faith leads us to trust and rely on God. (1–3)
Here is our first exercise in reading with fresh eyes. Many recent translations draw from the King James Version, which says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is not merely belief but has substance. Faith can be seen in actions. “The evidence of things not seen” is probably better translated “the proof of unseen matters” in today’s English. It is not faith that is unseen. Faith is visible in our lives as proof of hope in what we cannot see. What can’t we see? The author talks about God’s promise to redeem creation, a promise that is yet unfulfilled (11:3–40).
Because the recipients of Hebrews are facing persecution, the author holds up examples of the “ancestors” or “elders” who lived in faithful obedience to God even though they never saw the fulfillment, either of the particular promises made to them, or of the promise made to all creation. In that way, says the author, we are like them. We await that same promise, and we can — we must — follow their example.
Faith responds in worship to God. (4)
Why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice and reject Cain’s? Genesis doesn’t say (4:4–5) but the author of Hebrews provides an answer. God did not act capriciously but responded to the “substance” and “proof” of their hope: their obedience to God. That is, Cain disobeyed God (how, we don’t know) whereas Abel obeyed. Consequently Abel’s sacrifice proved his obedience whereas Cain’s proved nothing. It was an empty act.
Like the prophets of old, the author of Hebrews is saying God does not want worship unless the worshipper also is faithful. For the author, faithfulness means continuing to obey God in spite of trials and persecutions that tempt people to abandon God. It grows out of the knowledge that this world is not the final reality, but that God is going to bring a new reality. Paul calls it the “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) that has already come (but that is not yet fulfilled), and John calls it “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1). The rabbis of the time of Hebrews later called it “the world to come.”
Faith responds with obedience that is pleasing to God. (5–6)
Why did Enoch not die? Again, Genesis doesn’t say but our author provides an answer: Enoch pleased God “by faith,” that is, by the “substance” and “proof” of his faithful obedience. Through Enoch’s example, Hebrews’ readers then and now learn that people still cannot please God apart from this kind of faith. This is expressed in the last half of verse 6, where again we learn that faith is more than a willingness to believe, but requires both believing God exists and seeking God. According to Hebrews, believing alone is not faith, for it must result in searching for God, and, having found God, placing trust in the promise that despite the trials of this current life God is preparing our true home (11:16–40).
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