Hebrews 11
11
1Now our trust in God is the guarantee of what we hope for, the evidence of what we can't see. 2People who lived long ago trusted God and this is what gained them God's approval. 3Through our trust in God we understand that the whole universe was created by God's command, that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.
4By trusting him Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and as a result God identified him as someone who lived right. God showed this by accepting his offering. Even though Abel has been dead for a long time, he still speaks to us through what he did. 5By trusting God Enoch was taken to heaven so he didn't experience death. He couldn't be found on earth because God took him to heaven.#11:5. See Genesis 5:24. Before this happened he was known as someone God was pleased with.
6You can't expect God to be pleased with you if you don't trust him! Anyone who comes to God must believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who are searching for him.
7Noah trusted God, and was warned by him about things that had never happened before. Because Noah paid serious attention to what God said, he constructed an ark to save his family. By trusting God, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and received the reward of being set right by God.
8Through trusting God Abraham obeyed when God called him to go to the land God was going to give him. He left, not knowing where he was going. 9Trusting in God he lived in the promised land—but as a foreigner, living in tents, together with Isaac and Jacob who shared with him in inheriting the same promise. 10For Abraham was looking forward to a city built on foundations that last, with God as its builder and maker.
11By her trust in God even Sarah#11:11. Some versions say Abraham. herself was given the ability to conceive a child though she was too old, because she trusted God who had made the promise. 12That is why the descendants of Abraham (who was as good as dead!) became as numerous as the stars of heaven, as countless as the sand of the sea shore.
13They all died still trusting in God. Though they didn't receive the things God promised, they were still looking for them as it were from a distance and welcomed them, acknowledging that on this earth they were foreigners, people just passing through.
14People who say such things make it clear that they're looking for a country of their own. 15For if they cared about the country they'd left behind, they could have returned. 16But they're looking for a better country instead, a heavenly country. That is why God isn't disappointed with them, and is happy to be called their God, for he has built a city for them.
17Abraham trusted God when he was tested and offered Isaac to God. Abraham, who had accepted God's promises, was still ready to offer to God his only son,#11:17. Of course Isaac was not literally Abraham's only son; the term in Greek indicates primacy. 18even though he'd been told, “It's through Isaac that your descendants will be counted.”#11:18. See Genesis 21:12. 19Abraham had thought it through and decided that God could bring Isaac back to life from the dead. In a sense that's what did happen—Abraham received Isaac back from the dead.
20Trusting in God, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to what the future would bring. 21Trusting in God, Jacob as he was dying blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped God, leaning on his staff. 22Trusting in God, Joseph too, when his own death approached, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites, and gave instructions about what to do with his bones. 23Trusting in God, Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born. They recognized he was a special child. They weren't afraid to go against what the king had commanded.
24Trusting in God, Moses, when he grew up, refused to be known as the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25Instead he chose to share in the sufferings of God's people rather than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin. 26He counted the rejection he experienced from following Christ to be of far greater value than the wealth of Egypt—because he was focused on the reward to come.
27Trusting in God, he left Egypt and wasn't scared of Pharaoh's anger—he kept going with his eyes fixed on the invisible God. 28Trusting in God he observed the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroying angel would not touch the Israelites.#11:28. “Angel” and “Israelites” supplied by context. 29Trusting in God the Israelites crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do the same they were drowned. 30Trusting in God, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell down. 31Trusting in God, Rahab the prostitute didn't die with those who rejected God, because she had welcomed the Israelite spies in peace.
32What other examples should I give? I don't have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; about David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33Because of their trust in God they conquered kingdoms, did what was good and right, received God's promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34put out blazing fires, escaped being killed by the sword, were weak but made strong, did mighty deeds in war, and routed enemy armies.
35Women were given their dead family members back through resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to compromise and be pardoned, because they wanted to be part of a better resurrection. 36Yet others suffered insults and whippings; they were put in chains and imprisoned. 37Some were stoned, cut in pieces, tempted, killed by the sword. Some dressed in sheepskins and goatskins: destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy to have such people who wandered in the deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground.
39All of these people, even though they had God's approval, didn't receive what God had promised. 40God has given us something even better, so that they can't be complete without us.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Hebrews 11
11
Faith
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3#Gen 1.1. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 #
Gen 4.3-10. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5#Gen 5.21-24. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7#Gen 6.13-22. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 #
Gen 12.1-5. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9#Gen 35.27. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11#Gen 18.11-14; 21.2. Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12#Gen 15.5; 22.17; 32.12. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable.
13 #
Gen 23.4. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them,#11.13 and were persuaded of them not found in best early manuscripts. and embraced#11.13 embraced, Greek greeted. them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 #
Gen 22.1-14. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18#Gen 21.12. of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20#Gen 27.27-29,39,40. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21#Gen 47.31—48.20. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22#Gen 50.24,25; Exod 13.19. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 #
Exod 2.2;
Exod 1.22. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 24#Exod 2.10-12. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. 27#Exod 2.15. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28#Exod 12.21-30. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 #
Exod 14.21-31. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30#Josh 6.12-21. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31#Josh 6.22-25; Josh 2.1-21. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 #
Judg 6.11—8.32;
Judg 4.6—5.31;
Judg 13.2—16.31;
Judg 11.1—12.7;
1 Sam 16.1—1 Kgs 2.11;
1 Sam 1.1—25.1. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33#Dan 6.1-27. who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34#Dan 3.1-30. quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35#1 Kgs 17.17-24; 2 Kgs 4.25-37. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36#1 Kgs 22.26,27; 2 Chr 18.25,26; Jer 20.2; 37.15; 38.6. and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37#2 Chr 24.21. they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.