Hebrews 11:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"By faith," he says, "Noah, being warned." As the Son of God, speaking of His coming, said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, drank, married, and were given in marriage" (Lk 17:26-27), so the Apostle also speaks. He fittingly reminds the Hebrews of an example close to them. The example of Enoch was only an example of faith, but Noah's example was also one of unbelief. Consolation and exhortation are perfect when one sees not only that believers are counted worthy of honor, but also that unbelievers suffer the opposite. What does he mean by the words, "By faith Noah, being warned"? What does this mean? It was spoken to him, it was foretold to him.

"By faith Noah, being warned concerning things not yet seen, moved with reverence, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household" (Gen 6). Noah, he says, received a revelation from God, that is, he was instructed concerning unknown matters and did not remain unbelieving. On the contrary, though the air was clear, all were giving themselves to comfort and expected no danger, since nothing of the kind was visible. Nevertheless, believing God, he feared the flood and prepared the ark. Through it he saved all his household from the flood (Gen 6:22). Notice that what God promises, the Spirit also foretells, as it is said of Symeon: "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit" (Lk 2:26). Therefore the Spirit is God.

By faith Noah received revelation about what was not yet visible, that is, about events that occurred one hundred and twenty years after he received the revelation. Because of his fear before the threat of distant punishments awaiting men for their impiety and unbelief, he prepared an ark for himself with great labor, for the salvation of his household. By faith the world that did not believe was condemned, and the same faith made Noah heir of the promise (see Gen 6:8).

Faith disposed Noah to prepare the ark. If he had not firmly believed the One who commanded him to do this, he would have loved wickedness like other men. He "condemned the world" by being the only one of all mankind to walk the straight path. "And became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith," that is, he advanced in righteousness because he did not live under the Law. Rather, having become a child of faith, he was counted worthy of praise.

"By faith Noah, having received an answer concerning things he had not yet seen, moved with fear, made an ark for the salvation of his household." The construction of the sentence is this: Noah. Having received information about what he had not yet seen, that is, having received a prediction concerning the flood, believed and built the ark for the salvation of his household. Precisely because he believed this information, he built the ark as commanded, for his own salvation and that of those living with him, in view of the prediction of the flood. He also acted out of concern for those close to him. After he believed, concern appeared in him, even fear. Moved by fear, he built the ark, fulfilling everything as it had been commanded.

"He prepared an ark... by which he condemned the world," δι᾿ ἧς κατέκρινε. In the Slavonic and Russian translations, "by which" refers to faith, but the Greek text allows the pronoun to refer to the nearest noun, "ark," ἡ κιβωτός. The ark serves as condemnation for those who did not listen to the voice of God and the preaching of Noah. Chrysostom also interprets it so.

What relation did Noah's faith have to the building of the ark? It was the hidden and invisible, yet strongest, motive in his resolve to build the ark. For in order to perform this work before the eyes of the corrupt inhabitants before the flood, who showered the builder with mockery and reproaches, it was necessary to have the firmest conviction. He had to be convinced that God's threats concerning the destruction of the human race by water, and God's promises concerning the salvation of Noah's family, would certainly be fulfilled. How, then, did Noah by his faith condemn the whole world? This was in the sense that by his firm faith Noah proved that the world before the flood fully deserved its punishment. For it too could have believed as he did and been saved by this faith as he was, but it did not wish to do so.

The closest descendants of Adam displayed such faith. Thus Abel had not yet seen any miracles that would testify that God grants any blessings to those who honor Him. Yet by his sacrifice he honored God with all his heart. For this, God looked upon his sacrifice and thus testified His good will toward him. Even after death, He did not forget Abel because of his faith (Gen 4:4: "The voice of your brother's blood cries to Me from the ground"). Likewise, the Apostle sees strong faith in Enoch, because Holy Scripture testified to his God-pleasing life. It is impossible to please God without faith in Him. Everyone who approaches God with prayer or sacrifice must believe in God's being and in His justice, by which God grants blessings to those who zealously seek communion with Him.