Page 86 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

"though he is dead, he still speaks" This is recorded in Gen. 4:10; Heb. 12:24. In context this is an
affirmation of faith that faces death and triumphs over it. The readers were shrinking back from
persecution. They must, like Abel, have faith.

11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God
had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

"Enoch" He was the first man after the fall not touched by death (cf. Gen. 5:24). The OT does not
elaborate on the circumstances but asserts that he "walked" with God.

"was taken up" This means "moved to another spot." This is not a "resurrection" but a "translation" like
Elijah (cf. 2 Kgs. 2:11). There is a clear distinction in the Bible between
1. People brought back to life (resuscitation)
2. People taken to heaven without physical death (translation)
3. Jesus having a new spiritual body (resurrection)

"he was pleasing to God" This follows the Septuagint, but the MT has "walked with God."

11:6 "without faith it is impossible to please Him" This is the key assertion of this literary unit. It is not
just initial faith, but persevering faith that pleases God. All of these examples remained faithful to the
end of life, no matter how that end came. Faith is the way that humans believe, receive, accept the
promises of God. Salvation and discipleship are both impossible without faith. Faith in God's actions in
the past (creation, revelation); faith in God's presence in the present (persecution, suffering, even
death); faith in God's promised actions in the future (salvation, heaven).

"must believe" The Greek word pistis is translated by three English terms: "faith," "believe," and "trust."
The focus is not on cognitive facts alone, but personal trust in God's trustworthiness; faithing His
faithfulness! It is not just an affirmation, but a lifestyle.

The term "must" is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE, which means "it is binding," "it is necessary." Faith is
necessary!

11:7 "being warned by God about things not yet seen" Here is the faith pattern. These Old Testament
saints acted on what they had received from God. Their actions proved their faith was not mere words!
Can you imagine the ridicule and humiliation Noah experienced in building such a large boat, so far from
the water, to hold animals!

“Noah... became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” In Genesis 6-8 Noah is the
first man in the Bible called "righteous" (cf. 2 Pet. 2:5). It does not mean sinlessness but that Noah
walked in the light he had in faith and trust in God. As Abraham's faith was later accounted to him as
righteousness (cf. Gen. 15:6), so too, was Noah's.

11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an

inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

"Abraham. . .obeyed" In some ways these cameos are idealized representations of these men's lives.
The Old Testament is unique in ancient literature in that it records both the positive and negative about

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