Hebrews 11
11
The Great Faith of God's People
1Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 2#Si 44.10—50.21; 1 Macc 2.51-64. It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.
3 #
Gn 1.1; Ps 33.6,9; Jn 1.3. Because 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.
4 #
Gn 4.3-10. Because 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.
5 # Gn 5.21-24 (LXX); Si 44.16. Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. This is why his body was never found. 6But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for him.
7 #
Gn 6.13-22. Because 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.
8 #
Gn 12.1-5. Abraham 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. 9#Gn 35.27. Because 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. 10Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city God had planned and built.
11 #
Gn 18.11-14; 21.2. Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. 12#Gn 15.5; 22.17; 32.12. Her 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 seashore.
13 #
Gn 23.4; 1 Ch 29.15; Ps 39.12. Every 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. 14When people talk this way, it is clear 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. This is why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
17-18 #
Gn 21.12; 22.1-14. #4 Macc 13.12. Abraham 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, 19because he was sure that God could raise people to life. This was just like getting Isaac back from death.
20 #
Gn 27.27-29,39,40. Isaac had faith, and he promised blessings to Jacob and Esau. 21#Gn 48.1-20; Gn 47.31 (LXX). Later, when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his walking stick and worshiped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of Joseph's sons. 22#Gn 50.24,25; Ex 13.19. And right 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.
23 #
Ex 2.2;
Ex 1.22. Because 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 of their homes, so they would die or be killed. 24#Ex 2.10-12. Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called the king's grandson. 25#4 Macc 15.2. He chose to be mistreated 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. 28#Ex 12.21-30. His faith also made him celebrate Passover. He sprinkled the blood of animals on the doorposts, so that the first-born sons of the people of Israel would not be killed by the destroying angel.
29 #
Ex 14.21-31. Because 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 b.c. 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.
30 #
Js 6.12-25. God's people had faith, and when they had walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.
31 #
Js 6.21-25;
Js 2.1-21. Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people who disobeyed.
32 #
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. What else can I say? There isn't enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33#Dn 6.1-27. Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions 34#Dn 3.21-30. and 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.
35 #
1 K 17.17-24; 2 K 4.25-37; 2 Macc 6.18—7.42. Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life. 36#1 K 22.26,27; 2 Ch 18.25,26; Jr 20.2; 37.15,16; 38.6. Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. 37#2 Ch 24.21,22. Still others were stoned to death or sawed in two#11.37 sawed 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, mistreated, and tortured. 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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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Hebrews 11
11
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2For by this, the elders obtained approval. 3By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. 6Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,#11:7 or, reverence prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. 9By faith he lived as an alien 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 was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen#11:13 TR adds “and being convinced of” them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born#11:17 The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”. son, 18to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” #Genesis 21:12 19concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, 26considering the reproach of the Messiah greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27By faith he left 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.
29 By faith they passed through the Sea of Suf as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets— 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,#Daniel 6:22-23 34quenched the power of fire,#Daniel 3:1-30 escaped the edge of the sword,#1 Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31—7:20 from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. 35Women received their dead by resurrection.#1 Kings 17:17-23; 2 Kings 4:32-37 Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. 37They were stoned.#2 Chronicles 24:20-21 They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword.#Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10 They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— 38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
39 These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise, 40God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
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