When trying to get to grips with a passage, and understand it’s meaning, it can be helpful to look at how it is divided up into sections, and I shall use this structure:
| A | 11:1-3 | Introduction: the ancients commended for their faith – but they did not see [its fulfilment – implied] |
| B | 11:4-12 | Examples of men and women of faith – Abel to Abraham |
| C | 11:13-16 | Interlude: Pilgrim faith sees beyond the grave |
| B’ | 11:17-38 | Examples of men and women of faith – Abraham to Maccabean revolt |
| A’ | 11:39-40 | Conclusion: these men and women were commended for their faith – but did not see the fruit of it |
Straightaway this structure tells us something important about the central message of this chapter – faith is not based upon what we can see, i.e., it’s not based on experience. As we shall see, faith is focussed on the person who makes the promise – Jesus the Christ.