John 8:56

8:56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed ¹  to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” ² 

Hebrews 11:13

11:13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, ³  but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners ⁴  on the earth.

Hebrews 11:39

11:39 And these all were commended ⁵  for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. ⁶ 

Hebrews 11:1

People Commended for Their Faith

11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

Hebrews 1:10-11

1:10 And,

“You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, ⁷ 

and the heavens are the works of your hands.

1:11 They will perish, but you continue.

And they will all grow old like a garment,

[8:56]  ¹ tn Or “rejoiced greatly.”

[8:56]  ² tn What is the meaning of Jesus’ statement that the patriarch Abraham “saw” his day and rejoiced? The use of past tenses would seem to refer to something that occurred during the patriarch’s lifetime. Genesis Rabbah 44:25ff, (cf. 59:6) states that Rabbi Akiba, in a debate with Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkai, held that Abraham had been shown not this world only but the world to come (this would include the days of the Messiah). More realistically, it is likely that Gen 22:13-15 lies behind Jesus’ words. This passage, known to rabbis as the Akedah (“Binding”), tells of Abraham finding the ram which will replace his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice – an occasion of certain rejoicing.

[11:13]  ³ tn Grk “the promises,” referring to the things God promised, not to the pledges themselves.

[11:13]  ⁴ tn Or “sojourners.”

[11:39]  ⁵ sn The expression these all were commended forms an inclusio with Heb 11:2: The chapter begins and ends with references to commendation for faith.

[11:39]  ⁶ tn Grk “the promise,” referring to the thing God promised, not to the pledge itself.

[1:10]  ⁷ sn You founded the earth…your years will never run out. In its original setting Ps 102:25-27 refers to the work of God in creation, but here in Hebrews 1:10-12 the writer employs it in reference to Christ, the Lord, making a strong argument for the essential deity of the Son.