"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)