Hebrews 11
11
Some of God's people who had great faith
1Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 2It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.
3Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God's command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.#Gn 1.1; Ps 33.6,9; Jn 1.3.
4Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.#Gn 4.3-10.
5Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. That's why his body was never found.#Gn 5.21-24 (LXX). 6But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.
7Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.#Gn 6.13-22.
8Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen.#Gn 12.1-5. 9Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise.#Gn 35.27. 10Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and built.
11Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son.#Gn 18.11-14; 21.2. 12Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach.#Gn 15.5; 22.17; 32.12.
13Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth.#Gn 23.4; 1 Ch 29.15; Ps 39.12. 14When people talk this way, it is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own. 15If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time. 16But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That's why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
17-18Abraham had been promised that Isaac, his only son,#11.17,18 his only son: Although Abraham had a son by a slave woman, his son Isaac was considered his only son, because he was born as a result of God's promise to Abraham. would continue his family. But when Abraham was tested, he had faith and was willing to sacrifice Isaac,#Gn 22.1-14.#Gn 21.12. 19because he was sure that God could raise people to life. This was just like getting Isaac back from death.
20Isaac had faith, and he promised blessings to Jacob and Esau.#Gn 27.27-29,39,40. 21Later, when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his walking stick and worshipped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of Joseph's sons.#Gn 48.1-20; Gn 47.31 (LXX). 22And just before Joseph died, he had faith that God would lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. So he told them to take his bones with them.#Gn 50.24,25; Ex 13.19.
23Because Moses' parents had faith, they kept him hidden until he was three months old. They saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's orders.#11.23 the king's orders: The king of Egypt ordered all Israelite baby boys to be left outside their homes, so they would die or be killed.#Ex 2.2; Ex 1.22. 24Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called Pharaoh's#11.24 Pharaoh: A Hebrew word sometimes used for the title of the King of Egypt. grandson.#Ex 2.10-12. 25He chose to be ill-treated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while. 26Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah,#11.26 the Messiah: Or “Christ”. and he looked forward to his reward.
27Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. Moses had seen the invisible God and wasn't afraid of the king's anger. 28His faith also made him celebrate Passover. He sprinkled the blood of animals on the doorposts, so that the firstborn sons of the people of Israel would not be killed by the destroying angel.#Ex 12.21-30.
29Because of their faith, the people walked through the Red Sea#11.29 Red Sea: This name comes from the Bible of the early Christians, a translation made into Greek about 200 BC. It refers to the body of water that the Israelites crossed and was one of the marshes or fresh water lakes near the eastern part of the Nile Delta, where they lived and where the towns of Exodus 13.17—14.9 were located. on dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do it, they were drowned.#Ex 14.21-31.
30God's people had faith, and when they had walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.#Js 6.12-21.
31Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people who disobeyed.#Js 6.22-25; Js 2.1-21.
32What else can I say? There isn't enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.#Jg 6.11—8.32; Jg 4.6—5.31; Jg 13.2—16.31; Jg 11.1—12.7; 1 S 16.1—1 K 2.11; 1 S 1.1—25.1. 33Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions#Dn 6.1-27. 34and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away.#Dn 3.1-30.
35Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure that they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life.#1 K 17.17-24; 2 K 4.25-37. 36Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail.#1 K 22.26,27; 2 Ch 18.25,26; Jr 20.2; 37.15; 38.6. 37Still others were stoned to death or sawn in two#11.37 sawn in two: Some manuscripts have “tested” or “tempted”. or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, ill-treated, and tortured.#2 Ch 24.21. 38The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.
39All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. 40This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012
Hebrews 11
11
1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 2For therein the elders had witness borne to them. 3By 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. 4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: 6and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. 7By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised: 12wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. 15And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
17By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
32And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. 35Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. 39And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, 40God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
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