Living by Faith
1 Now faith is the reality 11:1 Or assurance of what is hoped for, the proof 11:1 Or conviction of what is not seen. 11:1 Rm 8:24; 2Co 4:182 For by this our ancestors were approved.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was 11:3 Or the worlds were,or the ages were created by the word of God, 11:3 Gn 1:1; Jn 1:3; 2Pt 3:5 so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 11:3 Or so that what is seen was made out of what was not visible
4 By 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. 11:4 Gn 4:4; 1Jn 3:12
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. 11:5 Gn 5:21–24 For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. 11:5 Gn 5:21–24; 2Kg 2:116 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7 By 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. 11:7 Gn 6:13–22; 1Pt 3:20
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. 11:8 Gn 12:1–4,7; Ac 7:2–49 By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. 11:9 Gn 12:8; 18:1; Ac 7:5; Heb 6:1710 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11:10 Heb 12:22; 13:14; Rv 21:2,10,14
11 By 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 11:11 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. 11:11 Gn 17:19; 18:11–14; 21:212 Therefore, from one man — in fact, from one as good as dead — came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore. 11:12 Gn 22:17; Rm 4:19
13 These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, 11:13 Mt 13:17; Jn 8:56; Heb 11:39 greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. 11:13 Gn 23:4; 1Ch 29:15; Ps 39:12; 1Pt 1:1714 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16 But 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. 11:16 Ex 3:6,15; Mk 8:38; 2Tm 4:18; Heb 13:14
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. 11:17 Gn 22:1–10; Jms 2:21 He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, 18 the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring 11:18 Lit seedwill be traced through Isaac. 11:18 Gn 21:12, 11:18 Gn 21:12; Rm 9:719 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; 11:19 Rm 4:17 therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking. 11:19 Or back, as a foreshadowing, or as a type
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau 11:20 Gn 25:25; 27:26–40 concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 11:21 Gn 47:31, 11:21 Gn 47:31; 48:1,5,16,2022 By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned 11:22 Or remembered the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. 11:22 Gn 50:24–25; Ex 13:19
23 By faith Moses, after he was born, 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. 11:23 Ex 1:16,22; 2:224 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter 25 and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. 11:24–25 Ex 2:10–11; Ps 84:1026 For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward. 11:26 Heb 10:35; 13:13
27 By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible. 11:27 Rm 1:20; Col 1:15–16; 1Tm 1:1728 By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. 29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. 11:29 Ex 14:22–30
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed. 11:31 Jos 2:1; 6:23
32 And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, 11:32 Jdg 4:6; 11:1; 13:24 David, Samuel, and the prophets, 11:32 1Sm 1:20; 16:1,1333 who by faith conquered kingdoms, 11:33 2Sm 7:11; 8:1–3 administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 11:33 Jdg 14:5–6; 1Sm 17:34–37; Dn 6:2234 quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. 11:34 Jdg 15:8; 2Kg 20:7; Dn 3:2535 Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. 11:36 Gn 39:20; Jr 20:237 They were stoned, 11:37 Other mss add they were tempted,, 11:37 1Kg 21:13; 2Ch 24:20–21 they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, 11:37 1Kg 19:10; 2Kg 1:8 destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us. 11:40 Heb 11:16; Rv 6:11