Meaning of Hebrews 11:3

This verse, Hebrews 11:3, serves as the foundational statement for the entire chapter on faith, asserting that faith is the faculty by which we apprehend truths that lie beyond empirical observation. It declares that the very existence of the cosmos, its orderly arrangement, and its origin are understood not through scientific investigation or sensory perception, but through an act of faith. This faith apprehends God's divine fiat, his spoken command, as the efficient cause of creation. Crucially, it posits a radical distinction between the created order and its source, stating that the visible reality we perceive was brought into being ex nihilo, or from "what is not visible." This implies that the material world, though tangible, originates from a non-material, invisible divine power, thus underscoring the transcendent nature of God and the supernatural origin of all things.

Context and Background

Hebrews 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" because it enumerates numerous Old Testament figures who demonstrated extraordinary faith in God. The author of Hebrews, likely writing to Jewish Christians facing persecution and the temptation to revert to Judaism, uses these examples to encourage perseverance. By highlighting how these individuals operated by faith, the author aims to bolster the confidence of his readers in the unseen realities of God's promises and power. Chapter 11 begins by defining faith itself, and verse 3 provides the prime example of what faith understands: the act of creation. This sets the stage for understanding all subsequent acts of faith described in the chapter as rooted in this fundamental belief in God as the Creator.

Key Themes and Messages

• Faith as Understanding: Faith is presented not as blind credulity but as a form of spiritual cognition, a way of knowing and understanding reality that transcends sensory data.
• Divine Omnipotence: The verse emphasizes God's absolute power, capable of bringing the universe into existence by mere command. His word is inherently creative and authoritative.
• Transcendence of God: The statement that the seen was made from the unseen highlights God's existence outside and beyond the material realm. He is not part of creation but its sovereign source.
• Creation Ex Nihilo: The phrase "not made out of what was visible" is a strong affirmation of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo, meaning creation out of nothing, or from an invisible, non-material source, rather than from pre-existing matter.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse is deeply significant for believers as it establishes the ultimate metaphysical truth about reality: God is the Creator. This understanding anchors our faith, providing a framework for all subsequent divine actions and promises. It means that our existence and the existence of everything around us are not accidental but are intentionally willed by a sovereign and powerful God. For individuals, it offers assurance that the universe is not chaotic or meaningless but is under divine governance. It encourages us to trust in God's ability to sustain and direct all things, even when circumstances are perplexing or overwhelming, because He is the one who brought them into being.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Hebrews 11:3 is a foundational statement that resonates throughout Scripture. The opening of Genesis, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1), directly supports this understanding of creation by divine command. The New Testament consistently points to Jesus Christ as the agent of creation: "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). This verse also sets the stage for the redemptive narrative, as the God who created the universe is also the God who can and will redeem it. The power displayed in creation is the same power available for our salvation and sanctification.

Analogies

Consider a sculptor who conceives of a statue entirely within their mind, an idea that exists in the invisible realm of thought. Then, through the deliberate act of their will and the skillful use of their hands, they bring forth a tangible, visible sculpture from raw, formless material. Similarly, God, from His invisible, infinite being, willed the universe into existence through His spoken word. Another analogy is a playwright who imagines an entire world and its characters, then writes them down, bringing them into a form that can be read and experienced. The playwright's imagination is the invisible source, and the written play is the visible manifestation.

Relation to Other Verses

• Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This is the prime Old Testament parallel, establishing God as the primordial Creator.
• John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." This identifies Jesus Christ as the divine agent of creation, harmonizing with Hebrews 11:3's affirmation of God's creative power.
• Romans 1:20: "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." This verse echoes Hebrews 11:3 by suggesting that the created order, though visible, testifies to an unseen, eternal Creator.
• Psalm 33:6: "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host." This poetic declaration directly aligns with the concept of creation by divine command.