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
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.