Chapter 11

11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

righteous

Hebrews 11:4 Hebrews 11:7 ; Romans 10:10 (See Scofield "Romans 10:10") .

11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

saving (See Scofield "Romans 1:16") .

world kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8") .

11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

confessed

i.e. acted upon them.

11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

sin

Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23") .

11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

of the reward

Omit "of the reward".

11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

righteousness

(See Scofield "1 John 3:7") .

11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

world

kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8") .

11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

faith

The essence of faith consists in receiving what God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in the God of the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He hath sent, which receives Him as Saviour and Lord, and impels to loving obedience and good works John 1:12 ; James 2:14-26 . The particular uses of faith give rise to its secondary definitions:

(1) For salvation, faith is personal trust, apart from meritorious works, in the Lord Jesus Christ, as delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification Romans 4:5 Romans 4:23-25 .

(2) As used in prayer, faith is the "confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us" 1 John 5:14 1 John 5:15 .

(3) As used in reference to unseen things of which Scripture speaks, faith "gives substance" to them, so that we act upon the conviction of their reality. Hebrews 11:1-3 .

(4) As a working principle in life, the uses of faith are illustrated in Hebrews 11:1-39 .

11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

perfect

(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48") .