Back to Today
Hebrews 11:1Faith exemplars (catalog)
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
Permalink Verse page
Interpretation

Paul urges a faith that is embodied in solitude and community. Hebrews 11:1: trace "things" and "faith". Choose faith in hospitality and listening—brighten hope by remembering. Through faith & justification, Explores how trust in God—rather than works—positions people in right relationship (Gen 15:6; Rom 3–4; Gal 2–3).

Context

Hebrews speaks here as epistle/letter writing, naming faith. Placed in ch. 11, the nearby lines set its tone. There’s a line into faith & justification. The nearby sentences supply the texture.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early sources associate Hebrews with Paul (trad.). A common scholarly view of Hebrews: Anonymous; candidates include Apollos, Barnabas, or Priscilla; style differs from Paul.. Date: AD 60–90. It sits within the Faith exemplars (catalog) (epistle/letter). Here the thread of faith & justification comes into view. Anonymous authorship and sermonic rhetoric are frequently noted.

More details
Traditional:Paul (trad.)
Modern scholarship:Anonymous; not Pauline in style; Apollos/Barnabas/Priscilla proposed.
Date:AD 60–90
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
Well–attested in Papyrus 46 (c. 200 CE) and Papyrus 13 (3rd century). The word 'hypostasis' (substance/assurance) appears consistently. Some Latin manuscripts interpret rather than translate, using 'substantia.' The definition of faith shows no textual variation across 1,800 years of Greek manuscripts. The Chester Beatty collection confirms this reading from Egypt.