Hebrews 11:1-4 Bible Teaching

Hebrews 7:19: Transition to the Eternal Priesthood

In a recent teaching, we delved into Hebrews 11:1-6, exploring the profound nature of faith as described in these verses. The passage begins by defining faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This foundational concept of faith is what allowed the elders, or ancient Hebrew patriarchs, to receive a good report from God. However, a closer examination of the Greek text suggests that it was not merely their faith that pleased God, but rather that their faith testified to them the truth of things unseen.

The discussion then moved to the creation narrative, where it is through faith that we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God. The Greek term “aion” suggests that this refers not to physical worlds but to the ages or epochs of time, which were perfectly joined together by God’s commands. This understanding challenges the traditional reading of the passage and emphasizes the immaterial and unseen nature of God’s creative work.

The teaching also highlighted the story of Abel and Cain, focusing on Abel’s more excellent sacrifice. While Genesis does not explicitly mention faith in this narrative, Hebrews 11:4 attributes Abel’s righteousness to his faith. The distinction between Abel and Cain’s offerings was not in the material itself but in the faith and heart behind the offering. Abel’s faith, though he is long dead, continues to speak to us today, reminding us of the enduring power of faith in the unseen and the eternal. This exploration of faith challenges us to consider the unseen realities that faith brings into focus and the legacy it leaves behind.