“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them, and they confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth — the crucial transition: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all died (apothnēskō) without receiving (komizō) the promises. Yet they saw them from afar (porrothen horaō) and embraced them (aspazomai), confessing (homologeō) their status as pilgrims (xenoi) and aliens (parepidēmoi) on earth. This confession indicates faith's proper orientation: toward the heavenly city, not earthly possession.
Church Fathers on Hebrews 11:13
“These all died in faith,” he says, “not having obtained the promises.” At this place it is worth while to make two enquiries; how, after saying that [God] “translated Enoch, and he was not found, so that he did not see death,” does he say, “These all died in Faith.” And again, after saying, “they not having obtained the promises,” he declares that Noah had received a reward, “to the saving of his house,” and that Enoch had been “translated,” and that Abel “yet speaks,” and…
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