Hebrews 11
11
Heroes of Faith
1Now faith is the reality # Or assurance of what is hoped for, the proof # Or conviction of what is not seen. # Rm 8:24; 2Co 4:18 2For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.
3By faith we understand that the universe was # Or the worlds were, or the ages were created by God’s command, # Or word # Gn 1:1; Jn 1:3; 2Pt 3:5 so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. # Gn 4:4; 1Jn 3:12
5By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. # Gn 5:21-24 For prior to his removal he was approved, since he had pleased God. # Gn 5:21-24; 2Kg 2:11 6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.
7By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. # Gn 6:13-22; 1Pt 3:20
8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. # Gn 12:1-4,7; Ac 7:2-4 9By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. # Gn 12:8; 18:1; Ac 7:5; Heb 6:17 10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. # Heb 12:22; 13:14; Rv 21:2,10,14
11By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she # Or By faith Abraham, even though he was past age — and Sarah herself was barren — received the ability to procreate since he considered that the One who had promised was faithful. # Gn 17:19; 18:11-14; 21:2 12Therefore from one man — in fact, from one as good as dead — came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore. # Gn 22:17; Rm 4:19
13These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, # Mt 13:17; Jn 8:56; Heb 11:39 greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. # Gn 23:4; 1Ch 29:15; Ps 39:12; 1Pt 1:17 14Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16But they now desire a better place — a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. # Ex 3:6,15; Mk 8:38; 2Tm 4:18; Heb 13:14
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. # Gn 22:1-10; Jms 2:21 He received the promises and he was offering his unique son, 18the one it had been said about, Your seed will be traced # Lit called through Isaac. # Gn 21:12; Rm 9:7 # Gn 21:12 19He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, # Rm 4:17 and as an illustration, # Or a foreshadowing, or a parable, or a type he received him back.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau # Gn 25:25; 27:26-40 concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. # Gn 47:31; 48:1,5,16,20 # Gn 47:31 22By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. # Gn 50:24-25; Ex 13:19
23By faith, after Moses was born, he was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. # Ex 1:16,22; 2:2 24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. # Ex 2:10-11; Ps 84:10 26For he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward. # Heb 10:35; 13:13
27By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees Him who is invisible. # Rm 1:20; Col 1:15-16; 1Tm 1:17 28By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. 29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. # Ex 14:22-30
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being encircled by the Israelites for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed. # Jos 2:1; 6:23
32And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, # Jdg 4:6; 11:1; 13:24 David, Samuel, and the prophets, # 1Sm 1:20; 16:1,13 33who by faith conquered kingdoms, # 2Sm 7:11; 8:1-3 administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, # Jdg 14:5-6; 1Sm 17:34-37; Dn 6:22 34quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. # Jdg 15:8; 2Kg 20:7; Dn 3:25 35Women received their dead — they were raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, 36and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. # Gn 39:20; Jr 20:2 37They were stoned, # Other mss add they were tempted # 1Kg 21:13; 2Ch 24:20-21 they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, # 1Kg 19:10; 2Kg 1:8 destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us. # Heb 11:16; Rv 6:11
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Hebrews 11
11
The Faithful See from Afar
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen.
2For by it the elders received commendation.
3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen did not come from anything visible.
4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain. Through faith he was commended as righteous when God approved of his gifts. And through faith he still speaks, although he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken so as not to see death, and he was not found because God took him. For before he was taken, he was commended as pleasing to God.
6Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about events not yet seen, in holy fear prepared an ark for the safety of his household. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
9By faith he migrated to the land of promise as if it were foreign, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob—fellow heirs of the same promise.
10For he was waiting for the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive when she was barren and past the age, since she considered the One who had made the promise to be faithful.
12So from one—and him as good as dead—were fathered offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and as uncountable as the sand on the seashore.
13These all died in faith without receiving the things promised—but they saw them and welcomed them from afar, and they confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15If indeed they had been thinking about where they had come from, they would have had opportunity to return.
16But as it is, they yearn for a better land—that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had received the promises was offering up his one and only son—
18the one about whom it was said, “Through Isaac offspring shall be named for you.”
19He reasoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead—and in a sense, he did receive him back from there.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he bowed in worship while leaning on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the exodus of Bnei-Yisrael and gave instructions about his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was an extraordinary child and they were not afraid of the king’s decree.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25Instead he chose to suffer mistreatment along with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
26He considered the disgrace of Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt—because he was looking ahead to the reward.
27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger—for he persevered as if seeing the One who is invisible.
28By faith he kept the Passover and the smearing of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as if on dry ground. When the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were circled for seven days.
31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she welcomed the spies with shalom.
32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets.
33By faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, and made foreign armies flee.
35Women received their dead raised back to life; and others were tortured, after not accepting release, so they might obtain a better resurrection.
36Others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging—yes, and even chains and prison.
37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were murdered with the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, mistreated.
38The world was not worthy of them! They wandered around in deserts and mountains, caves and holes in the ground.
39And all these, though commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised—
40because God had provided something better for us, so that only with us would they reach perfection.
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