John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 11:3

"By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear." — Hebrews 11:3 (ASV)

Through, or by, faith we understand, etc. This is a most striking proof of the last verse, for we are no different from the brute creation if we do not understand that the world has been created by God. For what purpose have humans been endowed with understanding and reason, except that they might acknowledge their Creator? But it is by faith alone that we know that it was God who created the world. No wonder then that faith shone forth in the fathers above all other virtues.

But it may be asked here, why does the Apostle assert that what even infidels acknowledge is only understood by faith? For the very appearance of heaven and earth constrains even the ungodly to acknowledge some Maker; and hence Paul condemns all for ingratitude, because they did not, after having known God, give Him the honor due to Him (Romans 1:25). And no doubt religion would not have prevailed so much among all nations if people's minds had not been impressed with the conviction that God is the Creator of the world. It thus appears then that this knowledge, which the Apostle ascribes to faith, exists without faith.

To this I reply that, although there has been an opinion of this kind among heathens that the world was made by God, it was still very fleeting. For as soon as they formed a notion of some God, they instantly became vain in their imaginations, so that they groped in the dark, having in their thoughts a mere shadow of some uncertain deity, and not the knowledge of the true God.

Besides, as it was only a transient opinion that flitted in their minds, it was far from being anything like knowledge. We may further add that they assigned to fortune or chance the supremacy in the government of the world, and they made no mention of God’s providence, which alone rules everything.

People's minds, therefore, are wholly blind, so that they do not see the light of nature which shines forth in created things, until, being illuminated by God’s Spirit, they begin to understand by faith what they otherwise cannot comprehend. Hence, the Apostle most correctly ascribes such an understanding to faith; for they who have faith do not entertain a slight opinion as to God being the Creator of the world, but they have a deep conviction fixed in their minds and behold the true God.

And further, they understand the power of His word, not only as manifested instantaneously in creating the world but also as put forth continually in its preservation. Nor is it His power only that they understand, but also His goodness, wisdom, and justice. And hence they are led to worship, love, and honor Him.

Not made of things which do appear. As to this clause, all interpreters seem to me to have been mistaken; and the mistake has arisen from separating the preposition from the participle φαὶνομένων. They give this rendering: “So that visible things were made from things which do not appear.” But from such words, hardly any sense can be elicited, at least a very meager sense; and further, the text does not admit of such a meaning, for then the words must have been, ἐκ μὴ φαινομένων: but the order adopted by the Apostle is different.

If, then, the words were rendered literally, the meaning would be as follows: “So that they became the visible of things not visible,” or, “not apparent.” Thus the preposition would be joined to the participle to which it belongs. Besides, the words would then contain a very important truth: that we have in this visible world a conspicuous image of God.

And thus the same truth is taught here as in Romans 1:20, where it is said that the invisible things of God are made known to us by the creation of the world, they being seen in His works. God has given us, throughout the whole framework of this world, clear evidences of His eternal wisdom, goodness, and power; and though He is in Himself invisible, He in a manner becomes visible to us in His works.

Correctly then, this world is called the mirror of divinity; not that there is sufficient clearness for humans to gain a full knowledge of God by looking at the world, but that He has thus far revealed Himself, so that the ignorance of the ungodly is without excuse. Now the faithful, to whom He has given eyes, see sparks of His glory, as it were, glittering in every created thing. The world was no doubt made that it might be the theater of the divine glory.