10/6/12

Hebrews, Chapter 11, Mark Copeland

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

                             Chapter Eleven

Having stressed the importance of faith for salvation (He 10:39), the
author defines faith (1-3) and then illustrates faith’s role in the
lives of many Old Testament saints (4-40).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The meaning of faith for New Testament Christians

   *  The examples of faith in Old Testament believers

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Faith defined - He 11:1-3
   - Faith exemplified - He 11:4-40

2) What is faith as defined in this chapter? (1)
   - Confidence in what we hope for, assurance about what we do not see
     (cf. NIV)

3) What we do understand by faith concerning the worlds? (3)
   - They were framed by the word of God, they were not made by things
     visible

4) List the names of Old Testament saints mentioned in this chapter
   (4-32)
   - Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
     Israel, Rahab
   - Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets

5) What did these "heroes of faith" look forward to receiving? (13-16)
   - The promises, especially regarding the heavenly country and city
     prepared by God

6) List some of the amazing things done by faith. (33-35)
   - Subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises
   - Stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire
   - Escaped the edge of the sword, became valiant in battle, turned
     armies to flight
   - Women received their dead raised to life again

7) List some of the things these people of faith endured. (35-38)
   - Torture, mocking, scourging, chains of imprisonment
   - Stoned, sawn in two, wandering destitute in mountains and caves,
     afflicted, tormented

8) What did these "heroes of faith" obtain? What did they not? Why?
   (39-40)
   - A good testimony
   - The promise (i.e., the Messianic promise)
   - That they might be made perfect together with us (i.e., salvation,
     the heavenly city)

9) From this chapter, what do we learn about faith and works?
   - True faith leads to action, faith without works is dead (cf. Jam
     2:14-26)