Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary
Having a Great Faith
Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (NKJV)
The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the second century, claimed Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.
Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11).
It is likely that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter. My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late 67-early 68 A.D.
In this letter, Paul is writing to Hebrews who have converted to Christianity from Judaism. Family and friends are likely pressuring them to return to Judaism, so Paul is writing to these Hebrew Christians to encourage them to remain steadfast in their faith and not to return to Judaism.
This chapter, Hebrews eleven, is known as the faith chapter. Paul runs chronologically through history and identifies those who are included in God’s “Hall of Faith”.
Those recognized for their faith previously in this chapter are Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah (Abraham’s wife), Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses’ parents (Amram and Jochebed), Moses, the Israelites of the Exodus, Joshua and the Israelites that God used to bring down the walls of Jericho, and Rahab. Paul begins this passage by writing “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:” (v. 32).
With this passage, Paul adds more names to God’s Hall of Faith. He adds “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets”.
He realizes that there is not enough “time” to write of all their achievements. But we can take time to mention some of their achievements.
Gideon reduced his army from 32,000 to 300 through his faith in God and still defeated the Midianites (Judges 7). Barak, relying on God and the prophetess Deborah routed the Canaanites.
Samson, through his faith, conquered the Philistines. Jephthah, through his faith, delivered his people from the Ammonites.
David was the warrior king who united Israel and Judah. He displayed his faith by seizing Jerusalem from the Jebusites, conquering the Philistines to the west, the Moabites and Ammonites to the east, the Syrians to the northeast, and the Edomites to the south.
Samuel, through his faith, anointed David king, displacing Saul, and became David’s spiritual leader. The prophets, through their faith, became spokesmen for God, often dying for their faith.
Next, Paul writes “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions” (v. 33). These great men of faith “subdued kingdoms” (v. 33a). Gideon and the other judges and kings of faith “worked righteousness” (v. 33b). Abraham, Moses, David, and Solomon “obtained promises” (v. 33c) by God. Daniel, David, and Samson “stopped the mouths of lions” (v. 33d).
Paul continues with “quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens (v. 34). The three Hebrew friends of Daniel (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) “quenched the violence of fire” (v. 34a). David, Elijah, and Elisha “escaped the edge of the sword” (v. 34b). Samson “out of weakness was made strong” (v. 34c). Those previously mentioned “became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (v. 34d).
Paul closes this passage by writing “Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” (v. 35). Women, the widow of Zarephath (1 Kgs. 17:22), the woman of Shunem (2 Kgs. 4:34), and Mary and Martha (Jn. 11), through their faith, all “received their dead, raised to life again” (v. 35a). Prophets and others of great faith “were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might gain a better resurrection” (v. 35b).
Paul brings to light the examples of all of these great men and women of faith to show the first century Hebrew Christians, and all Christians today, the power of faith. All things are possible through faith. Nothing is possible without faith.
God is always present, always with us. He stands by waiting to do great things in our lives.
But it takes faith. We must take the first step.
After we do that, God takes over. He will open doors, but we always must be taking steps of faith to go through those doors.
This is the life of the Christian. We can go as far as our faith in God takes us.
Little faith brings little results. Great faith brings great results.
Even in prayer, nothing happens unless we pray boldly, expecting God to work. That is the way God works. That is the way faith works.
Like these great men and women of faith, we, too, can do great things for God. But only if we have a great faith!