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Hebrews 11:1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the assurance of things not seen. “Now faith is the revelation of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.” For we see the invisible things through faith. It becomes for us an eye to the contemplation of what is hoped for, and shows what has not yet come into being as having already taken place. When all the dead are still in their graves, faith pictures us of the resurrection and teaches us to imagine immortality in the dust of bodies. Then the Apostle shows the previously glorious saints who were glorified by their faith. Hebrews 11:2. It bears witness to the ancients. “In this testimony, the ancients Bysha”, that is, the saints who lived in ancient times, before the law and under the law. In the first place the Apostle puts what was originally given to us in writing. And the first teaching taught to us in writing is this: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1), and other things said about creation. Hebrews 11:3. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what is visible was made out of things that are visible. “By faith we understand that the word of God has been perfected forever, from those things which are not seen to be made.” For it was not the bodily eye that saw how God created all things, but faith has taught us that the ever-present God created things that do not exist. For there is no example of this among people, however, not being taught anything like this by nature, we have faith as a teacher of extraordinary things. People create from existing things, but the God of all things created existing things from non-existent things. Hebrews 11:4. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain; by it he received evidence that he was righteous, as God testified about his gifts; He still speaks with it even after death. “By faith did Abel offer a greater sacrifice than Cain to God, by which he was testified to be a righteous man, testifying to his gifts to God: and by this the dead man still speaks.” The Apostle called “multiple” as the most precious. And this is clearly from the accusation uttered to Cain; for God said to him: “Even though you brought the right food, you did not share the right” (Gen. 4:7)? Consequently, Abel divided the right and brought it piously; he did the same and the other, having faith as a guide. And this: “he still says” means: to this day he is famous, renowned and praised by all the pious. Hebrews 11:5. By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death; and he was no more, because God had translated him. For before his migration he received a testimony that he pleased God. “By faith Enoch was cut short, not to see death: and not being found, God passed him over. Before its transformation, it was quickly witnessed that it would please God.” God changed the one who pleased him; but he was pleased by believing that God is the promoter of piety. Then the Apostle expresses himself positively. Hebrews 11:6. And without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those who seek Him. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” He also brought the proof of the position and presented it in the form of an undoubted saying. “But it is fitting for one who comes to God to believe, for He is, and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Anyone who does not believe that this is really so does not accept the labors of virtue. For even a farmer would not shed sweat cultivating the land if he were not sure that he would reap the fruits of his labors; so the helmsman, having in mind the pier, endures all kinds of dangers. Hebrews 11:7. By faith Noah, having received a revelation of what had not yet been seen, reverently prepared an ark for the salvation of his house; by it he condemned (the whole) world, and became heir of the righteousness of faith. “By faith we received Noah’s answer concerning these things, which we did not see; being afraid, you created an ark for the salvation of your house: with it you will judge the world, and you will be an heir of the righteousness that is by faith.” Faith set Noah up to prepare the ark. If I had not firmly believed in Him who commanded me to do this, then, like other people, I would have loved wickedness. “Judge the world” because one of all people walked the straight path. “And he became an heir of righteousness according to faith,” that is, he succeeded in righteousness, because he did not lead a life according to the law, but, having become a child of faith, was awarded praise. Hebrews 11:8. By faith Abraham obeyed the call to go to the country that he had to receive as an inheritance, and he went, not knowing where he was going. “By faith, Abraham obeyed the call to go to the place where he wanted to be received as an inheritance, and he did not know where he was coming.” This: “by the call of Abraham,” said the Apostle due to the change of name. For, being called Abram, he is called Abraham. Having believed the One who Called, he left his father’s house and followed, not knowing what land he promised to give him; for the One who called said to him: “Go into the land, even I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Hebrews 11:9. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as if it were a stranger, and lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, joint heirs of the same promise. “By faith Abraham came to the land of promise, like a stranger, and lived in shelters with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise.” And having come to the promised land, he did not become its owner, but he himself, his son, and his grandson led the life of migrants, living on their own land according to the promise, as if on a stranger. That’s why they didn’t build houses, but spent their lives living in shelters. However, they believed that the Promised One was true, even without seeing evidence of events consistent with faith. Hebrews 11:10. For he looked for a city that has foundations, whose maker and builder is God. “Waiting for the foundation of a wealthy city, God is its artist and creator.” Abraham did not desire the present, but desired the future, because the future is truly firm and durable. For by the word “foundation” the Apostle meant a long stay, and by “city” not made with hands he called heavenly life. He said this above: “Christ did not enter into a holy place made with hands, ... but into heaven itself” (Heb. 9:24). Hebrews 11:11. By faith Sarah herself (being barren) received the power to receive seed, and out of season she gave birth, for she knew that He who promised was faithful. “By faith Sarah herself received the power to hold the seed, and even more than the age of her birth, since she was faithful to the One who promised.” At first, Sarah laughed, not knowing the nature of the Promised One and knowing the limits of human nature, for not only old age, but also the promiscuity of the falsehood denied her birth. But later, having learned who the Promised One was, she believed and gave birth as she believed. Hebrews 11:12. And therefore from one, and, moreover, a dead one, as many were born, as there are many stars in the sky and as countless are the sand on the seashore. “In the same way, born from one, and even killed, like the stars of heaven in multitude and like the sand of the countless seas. From one,” that is, from Abraham. But if by one we mean both, then we will not sin; for it is said: “the two will become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Then the Apostle proves that all of them, together by faith, saw rewards for good labors, but in this life they did not enjoy them. And as soon as this is demonstrated in this way and the Judge is at the same time recognized as righteous, then the future life is also proven. For it is obvious that those who have gone the whole way of virtue, but in this life have not received rewards for their labors, will certainly receive them, because the Judge is fair. Consequently, there will be some other life in which the names of the winners will be proclaimed. The Apostle teaches this in the following words: Hebrews 11:13. All these died in faith, not receiving the promises, but only saw them from afar, and rejoiced, and said about themselves that they were strangers and strangers on earth. “By faith these all died, not having received the promises, but from afar I saw, and kissed, and confessed that they were strangers and strangers on the earth.” So the patriarch Abraham said to the son of the Hittites: “I am a stranger and a stranger among you; give me a grave among you, and I will bury my dead man from Me” (Gen. 23:4). And the one who accepted the promise to possess the whole earth did not possess a place even three cubits long. About this, the valiant Stephen said: “And you will not give him... a leg below the foot” (Acts 7:5). So blessed David, even being the king and owner of this land, often cried out: “For I am a stranger among you and a stranger, like all my fathers” (Ps. 38:13). Hebrews 11:14. For those who say this show that they are looking for a fatherland. “For such people appear as if they were seeking the fatherland.” Those who call themselves strangers, says the Apostle, let them see that they do not recognize anything real as property, but lust after other things. About this the Lord also said: “If you do not quickly return what is someone else’s, who will give you what is yours” (Luke 16:12)? Hebrews 11:15. And if they had in their thoughts the fatherland from which they came, they would have time to return. “And if they had remembered it, having come out of it, they would have had time to return.” For if the patriarch had considered Harran or the land of the Chaldeans to be his fatherland and therefore, living in Palestine, called himself a migrant, then, if he wanted, he could very easily have returned. Hebrews 11:16. But they strove for the best, that is, for the heavenly; Therefore God is not ashamed of them, calling Himself their God: for He has prepared a city for them. “Nowadays they desire the best, that is, the heavenly. Moreover, God is not ashamed of these, God calls them out: for they have a hail in store.” The Apostle is not speaking about this building, but about life in heaven. He says this a little lower: “But approach Mount Zion, and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22). By the way, he used the word: “not ashamed.” For the Lord of hosts, the Ruler of Angels, the Creator of heaven and earth, to the question: “What is His name?” - Leaving everything else, he said: “I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob... this My name is eternal, and the memory of generations from generation to generation” (Ex. 3, 13, 15). Hebrews 11:17. By faith Abraham, being tempted, sacrificed Isaac and, having the promise, offered his only begotten. Hebrews 11:18. Of whom it was said, Thy seed shall be called in Isaac. “By faith Abraham brought Isaac, when he was tempted, and offered his only begotten, and received the promises,” “to him it was quickly said: for Isaac shall your seed be called.” God promised to make many of Isaac’s descendants like the sand of the sea, and He Himself commanded Isaac to become a sacrifice. Therefore, the patriarch, besieged by two opposing thoughts, when, moreover, his nature tormented him more cruelly than any executioner, overcame everything without difficulty and made a sacrifice. But the Apostle also shows that thought, driven by which Abraham dispelled all other thoughts. Hebrews 11:19. For he thought that God was able to resurrect from the dead, which is why he received it as an omen. “Having thought that even from the dead God is able to resurrect.” The Patriarch overcame the thought that was born in him about many descendants, believing that even the dead, by God's will, can become alive. “The same is accepted in the parable,” that is, as if as a sign and prototype of the resurrection. For Isaac, killed by his father’s willingness, came to life at the voice of Him who forbade the slaughter. But it also contains the image of saving suffering; why the Lord said to the Jews: “Your father Abraham would have rejoiced that he might have seen My day: and he saw it and rejoiced” (John 8:56). Hebrews 11:20. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau with faith in the future. “By faith in the things to come, Isaac bless Jacob and Esau.” For he would not have given invisible blessings if he had not believed that words would be followed by deeds. Hebrews 11:21. By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each son of Joseph and bowed down on the top of his staff. “By faith Jacob, dying, blessed the son of Joseph every time and bowed down on the top of his staff.” For he foreshadowed the kingship of Ephraim and the subjection of the ten tribes to him; therefore, it itself transforms their worship. Hebrews 11:22. By faith Joseph, at his death, recalled the exodus of the children of Israel and testified about his bones. “By faith Joseph died in remembrance of the coming of the children of Israel and the commandment of his bones.” For I would not have given the commandment about the bones if I had not believed God’s promises. Hebrews 11:23. By faith, when Moses was born, he was hidden by his parents for three months, for they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s command. “By faith Moses was born hidden from his father for three months, having previously seen the red child and not being afraid of the commandment of the king.” For, looking at the baby’s appearance, they hoped that he would be worthy of God’s care for him. Hebrews 11:24. By faith Moses, when he came of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Hebrews 11:25. And he would rather suffer with the people of God than have temporary sinful pleasure. “By faith Moses, having become great, denied himself to be called the son of the daughters of Pharaoh,” “whether deigned to suffer with the people of God than to have the temporary sweetness of sin.” For, brought up in royal palaces, enjoying every luxury, being called the son of a princess, he would not have preferred the miserable life of his fellow tribesmen if he had not seen the Hero of God, looking with the eyes of faith. The Apostle called “sin” “sweetness” life with the wicked. Hebrews 11:26. And he considered the reproach of Christ to be greater wealth for himself than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. “Having counted the greater wealth of the Egyptian treasures for the reproach of Christ, looking instead at the reward”; that is, reproach in the image of Christ, comparable to the reproaches of Christ, to which opponents dared to subject piety. Hebrews 11:27. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's wrath, for he, as if seeing the Invisible One, was steadfast. “By faith leave Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the queen: for having seen the invisible, you have endured.” Although he abandoned Egypt and was afraid, he boldly struck down the Egyptian. Therefore, the Apostle pointed to flight instead of the reason for flight. Hebrews 11:28. By faith he celebrated the Passover and the shedding of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. “By faith create the Passover and the shedding of blood, so that the firstborn who destroys will not touch them.” For without faith, how could he have believed that death would be stopped by the blood of a sheep? But through the image he saw into the very truth and imagined the power of the Master of Blood. Hebrews 11:29. By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land, which the Egyptians attempted and drowned. “By faith I crossed the Red Sea like the earth; the Egyptians drowned in its temptation.” With faith, Moses, striking the waters with his rod, prepared an extraordinary path for the people, which became the grave for the Egyptians. Hebrews 11:30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after a seven-day march. “By faith the walls of Jericho, by circumambulation for seven days.” The sound of trumpets, sounded with faith, like battering guns, toppled the walls. Hebrews 11:31. By faith Rahab the harlot, having received the spies in peace (and leading them another way), did not perish with the infidels. “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who resisted, but she accepted the spies in peace.” And the lawlessness of life did not hinder salvation, because faith covered the wounds of sin. The apostolic wisdom is worthy of wonder, or better yet, the effectiveness of God’s Spirit should be hymned in the fact that foreign wives and harlots were associated with Moses, Abraham, Noah, Enoch and other saints, so that the power of faith would be visible and the arrogance of the Jews would be humbled. For six hundred thousand of them were destroyed in the desert for unbelief and living according to the law did not bring them any benefit, and Rahab, although she was far from being related to Abraham, was alien to living under the law and spent most of her time in debauchery, but through faith she acquired salvation and created the image of the Church. Just as she accepted the spies with faith, so the Church accepted the Apostles. And just as she received “scarlet rope” (Joshua 2:18) as a sign of salvation, so the Church in the Master’s blood enjoyed eternal blessings. Thus, having mentioned those named by him and seeing the many listed, the divine Apostle briefly mentions the others. Hebrews 11:32. And what else can I say? I do not have enough time to tell about Gideon, about Barak, about Samson and Jephthah, about David, Samuel and (other) prophets. “And what else am I saying? I won’t have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Baraz and Sampson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel.” The Apostle listed their names, but kept silent about the type of their merits. But subsequently, although it is unclear, he speaks, however, about the advantages of each. Then he mentions others in general and says: "And about other prophets". It tells you what they succeeded in. Hebrews 11:33. Who by faith conquered kingdoms, did righteousness, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions. “Who by faith has conquered the kingdom.” Gideon overthrew the Midianites, Sampson overthrew the Philistines, Barak overthrew Sisera, David overthrew the Ammonites, the Amalekites and both tribes of the Syrians (2 Sam. 10:6), Samuel overthrew the Philistines. "Telling the truth." This is the common merit of all saints. "Receive the Promise". And God promised Abraham that his seed would bless all nations (Gen. 22:18), and he gave the same blessing to Isaac and Jacob, and he also spoke promises to David about the Lord Christ and proved the truth of them with his own deeds. He also promised to return from Babylon and fulfilled this promise. “Blocking the mouth of the lions” - Daniel. Hebrews 11:34. They extinguished the power of fire, avoided the edge of the sword, strengthened themselves from weakness, were strong in war, drove away the regiments of strangers. “Quenching the fiery power” - Ananias, Azariah and Misail. “Escape the edge of the sword” – those who have won wars. “Strengthened from weakness.” Those who returned with Zerubbabel, freed from captivity and defeated their neighbors who rebelled against them. “They were strong in battle” - both those listed above and the children of Mattathias: Judah, Jonathan and Simon. “Putting the alien regiments to flight.” The Apostle expressed the same thing differently. Hebrews 11:35. The wives received their dead resurrected; others were tortured without accepting liberation in order to receive a better resurrection. “Wives received from the resurrection of their dead.” These are the miracles of the great Elijah and Elisha, one of whom raised the son of a widow, and the other the son of a Somanite woman. “If they beat Bysh, they did not accept deliverance, so that they would receive a better resurrection.” Eleazar, the seven Maccabees and their mother. Hebrews 11:36. Others experienced abuse and beatings, as well as chains and prison. “Friends have accepted temptation with abuse and wounds, and also with bonds and prison.” The same ones, and besides them, many others. Hebrews 11:37. They were stoned, sawn apart, tortured, died by the sword, wandered around in sheepskins and goatskins, suffering disadvantages, sorrows, and bitterness. Hebrews 11:38. Those whom the whole world was not worthy of wandered through deserts and mountains, through caves and gorges of the earth. “The stoning of Bysh.” Priest Zechariah, son of Jehoiada. “Train the Bysh.” They say that the prophet Isaiah endured this. "The Temptations of Bysh" Abraham and Jacob. "By killing the sword I died". About this the Lord said: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you killed the prophets and stoned those who were sent to you” (Matthew 23:37). “I walked in sheepskins and goatskins, in deprivation, in sorrow, in embitterment”: “the world is not worthy of them, wandering in the deserts and in the mountains and in dens and in the abysses of the earth.” So great is Elijah; so Elisha, the great heir of his grace; So most of the prophets, who did not even have houses, but cut down trees and built booths for themselves. Hebrews 11:39. And all these who testified in faith did not receive what was promised. Hebrews 11:40. Because God has provided something better for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us. “And all these obeyed by faith, not receiving the promises.” “To God I foresee the best for us, so that not without us will they receive perfection.” Their exploits were numerous and great; however, they have not yet been awarded crowns, because God expects all sorts of exploits from others, so that, when the field is closed, all the victorious people together will be worthy of proclamation. You might be interested in: