through suffering (11:7). Theophylact comparing the examples of Abel and Enoch says well: o{ra de; pw'" dia; me;n tou' [Abel e[deixen oJ qeo;" th;n ajpovfasin th;n peri; tou' qanavtou ajlhqh', dia; de; tou' jEnw;c pavlin e[deixen o{ti provskairo" hJ ajpovfasi" kai; ajnaireqhvsetai . And it may be added that, as in Abel and Enoch there were revelations of death and life, so in Noah there was a revelation of judgment.
3 By faith we perceive that the world hath been framed by God's word, to the end that that which is seen be known to have arisen not from things which appear.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more abundant sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness on occasion of his gifts; and through it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death; and he was not found, because God translated him; for before his translation the witness is recorded that he had been well-pleasing to God; 6 and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing to Him; for he that cometh to God must have faith (believe) that He is, and that He shews Himself a rewarder to them that diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah being warned by God concerning the things not yet seen, moved with pious care, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Heb. 11:3. The belief in creationthe belief in a divine will manifested in the existence of the worldis the necessary foundation for the life of faith in all its manifestations. Hence this primary action of faith is declared first. By faith we attain to the assurance that the worldhistoryis not the result of blind fate but answers to an expression of the will of God; and so we can attain to fresh victories corresponding to our position, even as in the past the heroes of faith triumphed.
The verse presents two distinct thoughts. It declares the fundamental act of faith by which we apprehend the fact of creation, and then points out the consequence which ought to follow from it in our view of the world, as it lies before us. The conception of creation by God's word rightly leads to a present belief in the power of God as Preserver and Governor of that which He created.
pivstei
...
rJhvm. qeou'
]
By faith we perceive that the world hath been framed by God's word
... Vulg.
Fide intellegimus aptata esse saecula verbo Dei
... The conclusion, which we are so constituted as to form, is an interpretation of the external phenomena which are presented to us made by the highest rational faculty in man (
nou'"
), to which Faith gives validity.
For noou'men compare Rom. 1:20; Wisd. 13:4. It expresses a mental as distinguished from a sensuous perception (Mark 8:17). The term nou'" , which is not found in this Epistle, is characteristic of St Paul: 1 Cor. 2:16; Rom. 12:2; Col. 2:18; 1 Tim. 5:5.
Kathrtivsqai expresses the manifoldness and the unity of all creation; and by the tense marks that the original lesson of creation remains for abiding use and application. Comp. Herm. Mand. 1.1. For katartivzein compare Heb. 10:5; 13:21; 1 Thess. 3:10; Gal. 6:1; Ps. 67:10 (68:10); 73:16 (74:16); 88:38 (89:38); 28:9 (29:9) & c.