Texts in Conversation
Hebrews 11 recalls the deeds of ancestors as models of faith, a literary style that parallels Sirach 44, which praises figures of the past. Both use the Greek literary form known as an encomium, a structured celebration of notable lives.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Sirach 44:1
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
1 Let us now praise famous men, our ancestors in their generations. 2 The Lord created great glory in them— his mighty power from the beginning. 3 Some ruled in their kingdoms and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding. Some have spoken in prophecies, 4 leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their understanding, giving instruction for the people. Their words in their instruction were wise. 5 Some composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing,
Date: 195–180 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Hebrews 11:2
New Testament
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. 2 For by it the people of old received God’s commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.
Date: 80–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Using 'abstract quality' as the basis of his argument, Ryken contends that faith is the subject of the encomium in Hebrews 11:1–12:2. It is likely, however, that the subject of the encomium is a person here, as it often is in extra-Biblical literature. The basis for this claim is a comparison of Hebrews 11:1–12:2 with Sirach 44–50, the "praise of the fathers" passage ... T. R. Lee argues that Sirach 44-50 is an encomium on the high priest Simon II. His definition of encomium is essentially the same as that of Ryken. His understanding is the result of an historical survey of the form in Greek literature ranging from the fifth century B.C. to the third century A.D ... If both Hebrews 11 and Sirach 44–50 are encomia, then in fact they are not 'distinct' formally but share a literary form common to the Greco-Roman world that was rare in Jewish literature. It is this uniqueness that Lee stresses in distinguishing the Sirach passage from other passages ..."
Merland R. Miller, “What Is the Literary Form of Hebrews 11?” JETS 29.4 (1986): 411–417.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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