Christmas Season · The Holy Family of Jesus: Mary and Joseph · Year B
Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 or Colossians 3:12-21
By Faith
January 1, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
The Nature and Importance of Faith The mention of the importance of faith in the last two verses of the preceding chapter leads naturally to this famous chapter on faith. It is impossible to know whether the author is making use of a source, which he now takes over in part or totally, or whether he is composing a fresh catalogue of heroes on the model of existing examples. Extensive reviews of the history of Israel had been composed to substantiate a warning or to provide encouragement, and some of these would have been known to our author. As examples, we may mention Psalm 78; Wisdom of Solomon 10; Sirach 44–50; 1 Maccabees 2:51–64; and Acts 7.
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Commentary
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on Abraham's four acts of faith, obeying the call and trusting the promise.
Enduring Word Bible Commentary Hebrews Chapter 11 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on the roll call of faith, Abraham and Sarah, and the offering of Isaac as a figure of resurrection.
Hebrews 11:8 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary on Abraham obeying to go out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 11:8-10 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep verse-by-verse study notes gathering many conservative scholars on Abraham's pilgrim faith.
Background & Word Study
Hebrews 11:8 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word by word with parsing for by faith (pistei), obeyed (hypekousen), and not knowing (epistamenos).
Enter the Bible: Hebrews Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on Hebrews and its definition of faith as assurance of things hoped for.
BibleProject: Book of Hebrews Overview BibleProject
Animated overview showing how the faith chapter builds the letter's call to endure looking to Jesus.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is the roll call of faith?
Hebrews 11 tells of those who trusted God's promise before they saw it, Abraham and Sarah among them, welcoming from afar the fulfillment that comes in Christ.
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