The Letter to the Hebrews:
An Explanation of the Mechanism
of Our Salvation

Lesson 13 By Faith, We Too Live
the Letter to the Hebrews 11:1–12

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
Porta Fidei (Door of Faith)
Tami Palladino’s visual-meditation journal
cross references in the Letter to the Hebrews
next lesson: Strangers & Exiles on the Earth

This material coordinates with Lesson 13 on pages 46–49 in The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation.

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”—the Letter to the Hebrews 5:7–10

welcome to our in-depth study of the Letter to the Hebrews
We invite you to check out the sample first lesson and video from this 18-lesson Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study. Our online study pages link to free lesson videos and cross references in the biblical text, and include illustrations and prayers based on Scripture in each lesson. The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation has been granted an imprimatur. This study currently is being expanded; the content will be available in a new printed study at a later date. Please contact us if you’re interested in purchasing a digital copy of the existing study.

open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

important role models—hall-of-famers
In the eleventh chapter in the Letter to the Hebrews, the author introduces some Old Testament figures whose faith pleased God. Our study breaks this chapter into four lessons to focus more intently on who these important people are and what they did.  Although we’re limited in how much space we can devote to the exemplary figures, we encourage you to read more about them in the Old Testament. Questions in this and the next several lessons point toward pertinent passages that will provide more background. Don’t miss Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino’s illustrated reflections on the Scripture passages that form the basis of The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation. Click on the illustration (left) to enlarge it, and also check out Tami’s visual-meditation journal to see all of her drawings. Her reflections for this lesson, “By Faith, We Too Live,” are on pages 50 through 53 of her journal.

every lesson has a free video (08:26)
Don’t forget—each lesson of The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation has a related video. In these short presentations, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps reads the biblical text for the lesson and comments about it. You can watch the videos as part of your preparation for group discussion or to catch up if you have to miss a discussion. Some groups watch the videos together prior to their discussions. Because the videos are on YouTube, you can access them wherever and whenever it’s convenient—and they’re free. This study and its videos are undergoing revision  to incorporate additional material. The original content will be included in a different printed study. The original 18 lessons pertaining to the Letter to the Hebrews currently are available digitally.


exemplary lives in this section
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews has chosen these men and women because they exemplify lives of faith recorded in the Old Testament. The Letter to the Hebrews so far has consisted of an easily recognizable pattern. First the author presents as good some aspect of Old Testament belief that would have been accepted by his audience, and that’s what he appears to be doing with these examples in the eleventh chapter. By now, we should expect the author to hold the position that although the Old Testament faith is very good, Christian faith is even better.

faith—you could look it up in our archives
Faith is a difficult concept for some people, especially in an age that relies heavily on scientific proof. To learn more about the word “faith” and other words related to Christianity, read Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week.

the popes inspire us—Porta Fidei (Door of Faith)
In his apostolic letter ushering in the Year of Faith (October 2012 to November 2013), Pope Benedict XVI borrowed a format used by the author of the Letter to the Hebrews. In the eleventh chapter in the Letter to the Hebrews, Old Testament ancestors of the faith are introduced with the phrase, “By faith … .” Pope Benedict XVI uses the same phrase to introduce a collection of New Testament witnesses to the faith. Here’s a link to an online copy of Porta Fidei (Door of Faith), distributed to the worldwide Church on October 11, 2011.

two unusual Old Testament figures
In the Letter to the Hebrews 11:5–6, the author writes about the witness of Enoch, an enigmatic Old Testament figure who, along with the prophet Elijah, was taken up to heaven by God. You can read about Enoch in the book of Genesis 5:18–24 and about Elijah’s ascension in the Second Book of the Kings 2:1–11. The idea that Enoch was “taken up” by God appears in the book of Genesis 2:24: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him,” but the author of the Letter to the Hebrews states the case somewhat more clearly. You can learn more about Enoch in Lesson 5 The Wickedness of Mankind Was Great in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis and more about Elijah in Lesson 6 Elijah & the Widow of Zarephath through Lesson 10 Elijah’s Fiery Departure in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.

WHAT DO YOU THINK about these Old Testament role models?
Melchizedek has been a key figure so far in our study of the Letter to the Hebrews, so it’s worth considering the difference between how Melchizedek is described in the Scriptures and how Enoch and Elijah are described.

?  What distinctions do you see between Melchizedek, Enoch, and Elijah?
?  Consider why the author of the Letter to the Hebrews has chosen to emphasize a distinction between these important Old Testament figures.
?  What effect does making this distinction have on your Christian faith?

Noah as a type of Jesus
One of the Old Testament champions of faith mentioned in this section of the Letter to the Hebrews is Noah. To learn more about how Noah serves as a type of Jesus in bringing about the salvation of all people, read “A Flood of Images” on page 48 in The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation. You also may be interested in Lesson 6 The Great Flood & God’s Covenant with Noah in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis.

what Matthew says: another comment about Noah
A question has been raised about the Letter to the Hebrews 11:7, which reads: “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.” The idea of Noah condemning the world shouldn’t be taken out of context. Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps explains that “by this he condemned the world” in the original Greek can mean “by the saving of his household Noah condemned the world.”

The author of the Letter to the Hebrews is careful to point out that Noah both saves his household and condemns the world. The two things are related. Those who are condemned “by Noah” are condemned because of their wickedness, which appears in stark contrast to Noah’s goodness. Men and women who follow Christ resemble Christ. Those who fail appear in stark contrast to Jesus Christ, but Jesus isn’t sent to issue a direct condemnation of the world. It’s through the contrast with goodness that the world is condemned. It’s through practicing goodness and following God’s instructions that Noah is able to save his household. It’s also through practicing goodness and following God’s instructions that Jesus is able to save those who are part of his household.

how is this relevant?
The world that’s condemned doesn’t include Noah and his household, from whom we all descend. Noah saves his household, and from the book of Genesis we know that Noah also saved pairs of all of the animals in order that all living creatures might be repopulated after the Flood subsided. Noah is in fact seen as a type of Christ, and the ark is seen as a type of the Church. You can learn more about Noah in Lesson 6 The Great Flood & God’s Covenant with Noah in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis. Co-founder Tami Palladino points out that while Jesus offers the possibility of salvation to all of humanity, only those who “get on board” actually will be saved. The Gospel According to John 3:17 expresses the same idea this way: “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” You can learn more about Jesus’ view in Lesson 4 A Man of the Pharisees, Named Nicodemus in the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth.

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however.

the Letter to the Hebrews 11:1—paragraph 146
the Letter to the Hebrews 11:2—paragraph 147
the Letter to the Hebrews 11:3—paragraph 286
the Letter to the Hebrews 11:6—paragraphs 161, 848
the Letter to the Hebrews 11:8—paragraph 145

to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a passage in Scripture, you can look it up in the index in the online sample lesson. If you want to revisit a particular commentary, you can look that up by title in the topics index. If you want to learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, you can read the online commentaries and watch any accompanying videos by going to the online study directories. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
You can find links to magisterial documents referred to in Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This page includes a listing of significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to a reading from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical text. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the Letter to the Hebrews 11:1–12 (NIV)

round black doveclose with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers you can follow our four easy steps, or you can use the following prayer based on this lesson’s text from the Letter to the Hebrews.

God our Father, throughout history
you’ve sent a number of role models
to show us what it means to live by faith.
Help us to persevere as they did
and to trust in the eternal life
promised through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lesson 14 Strangers & Exiles on the Earth, the Letter to the Hebrews 11:13–22
Lesson 12 Let Us Draw Near with a True Heart, the Letter to the Hebrews 10:19–39

you also may like our study of the Gospel According to John
The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth, a 25-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines the Fourth Gospel’s view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with special emphasis on the institution of the sacraments of the Church as the means by which Christians are purified and made holy. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary, and takes a closer look at the way in which Jesus relates to individual men and women. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation. Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer your questions and to offer support. Contact us if you’re interested in purchasing a digital version of this study, in starting another Turning to God study, or in having your study schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer

*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the online pages of The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.