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#47. (contd.). The perfecting of faith (11:).
Encouragement and reproof.
pp. 61 - 63
In attempting the translation of Heb. 11: 1, and retaining the rendering "reproof", care
must be exercised in ascertaining the meaning of the genitive case expressed by "of". It
may be the genitive of character, like "the bond of perfectness"; or of origin, "the gift of
God"; or of possession, "the sword of the spirit", i.e., "the spirit's sword"; or of
apposition, "the firstfruits of the spirit", i.e., "the firstfruits (of our inheritance), that is to
say, the spirit"; or of relation, "the reproach of Christ", i.e., reproach in connection with
Christ. Of all these the last appears nearest to the meaning of Heb. 11: 1, "The reproof in
connection with faith" being very parallel with "The reproach in connection with Christ",
and in this way we should translate the passage. Faith assumes the invisible. Every
believer should be able to say, though with purer intent than she who first uttered the
words,
"Thy letters have transported me beyond
This ignorant present, and I feel now
The future in the instant."
This faith characterized "the elders" who received a good report. Report is martureo,
and this constitutes them the great cloud of witnesses (martur of Heb. 12: 1). These
elders come before us again at the close of the chapter, "These all, having obtained good
report through faith received not the promise" (Heb. 11: 39), but although they received it
not, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of them" (Heb. 11: 13). They had both the substance and the
discipline, and these alone will enable the believer to go on unto perfection.
Dispensational truth and faith.
According to the A.V., verse 3 turns aside to speak of the creation of "the worlds". It
is reserved for the speculative mind of man to conceive of "worlds". Scripture speaks of
the "world". Creation however is not in view here. An age was drawing to its end. A
dispensation that was secret was about to be introduced. The Hebrew believer could see
nothing tangible, things were being shaken, and the apostle draws attention to the fact
that:--
"By faith we understand that the ages were readjusted by the word of God, so that