Revised Standard Version‘s “For” underlines the fact that faith is not simply a subjective feeling of certainty but, as in 6.12, has an active role in salvation. The Greek shows that Revised Standard Version‘s “by it” means by … faith.

People of ancient times means essentially the same as our ancestors in 1.1, not King James Version‘s “the elders,” which suggests ordination. The rest of the chapter, especially verses 3-12, shows that “men” (Revised Standard Version) of this period are mainly in the writer’s mind, but “women” are not excluded; see comments on verse 11, and compare verses 31, 35. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch specifies “exemplary people of earlier times,” and this is certainly implied.

Won God’s approval is literally “were witnessed (to),” but verse 4 makes it clear that God is the one giving a favorable judgment. The meaning may more precisely be “God speaking in Scripture.”

In the Greek, faith is related to God’s approval by an expression of means, but it may have to be expressed as a cause; for example, “Because people of ancient times trusted God, they won his approval.”

It may be difficult to translate won God’s approval literally. This can, however, be made a causative expression, “caused God to approve of them” or “did what caused God to approve of them.” The causative is not, however, essential for the meaning; for example, this verse may be rendered “Because people of ancient times trusted God, he approved of them” or “… he showed that he was happy with them.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .