Hebrews 11 Commentary

The Pauline Author begins by explaining what faith is. 

The foundation of faith is to believe that God created the world by His word. Abel, Enoch, and Noah are early examples of faithful believers. 

The Pauline Author names the patriarchs of the Jewish faith as faithful believers in the promises of God. 

Those who remain faithful regard themselves as strangers on this earth, because they know there is a better heavenly country. They live by faith, believing in the promised reward.

Faithful believers are able to look beyond death to resurrection and to a fulfilled promise.

Faithful believers still do what is right even in the face of persecution.

The Pauline Author recognizes that he cannot acknowledge all of the faithful believers, but he names some of the incredible trials they endured for their faithfulness.

God does not always deliver believers in this life, sometimes believers suffer terrible things in this life and do not see their reward or deliverance until the next life.

All of these faithful believers gained approval, but they have not yet gained the promise.