Verse of the Day

　　

Hebrews 11:1,3

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ... By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

　　

Translations of Today's Verse

King James Version

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ... Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

English Standard Version

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ... By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

The Message

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. ... By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.

New King James Version

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ... By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

New Living Translation

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. ... By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

　　

Commentary on Today's Verse

Commentary on Hebrews 11:1-3

(Read Hebrews 11:1-3)

　　Faith always has been the mark of God's servants, from the beginning of the world. Where the principle is planted by the regenerating Spirit of God, it will cause the truth to be received, concerning justification by the sufferings and merits of Christ. And the same things that are the object of our hope, are the object of our faith. It is a firm persuasion and expectation, that God will perform all he has promised to us in Christ. This persuasion gives the soul to enjoy those things now; it gives them a subsistence or reality in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them. Faith proves to the mind, the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye. It is a full approval of all God has revealed, as holy, just, and good. This view of faith is explained by many examples of persons in former times, who obtained a good report, or an honourable character in the word of God. Faith was the principle of their holy obedience, remarkable services, and patient sufferings. The Bible gives the most true and exact account of the origin of all things, and we are to believe it, and not to wrest the Scripture account of the creation, because it does not suit with the differing fancies of men. All that we see of the works of creation, were brought into being by the command of God.

　　

Hebrews 11:1,3 In-Context

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

　　2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

　　3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

　　4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

　　5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away."Gen. 5:24 For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.