The Epistle to the Hebrews

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 11 -

(Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

This is why the ancients were commended.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

(Genesis 1:4–9)

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken up

(a)

so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”(b) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah

(Genesis 15:1–22; Romans 4:1–12)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,(c)

even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”(d)

Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

(Genesis 27:1–46)

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

The Faith of Moses

(Exodus 2:1–15; Acts 7:20–22)

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow,(e) they were drowned.

The Faith of Many

(Joshua 2:1–24)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

They were stoned, they were sawed in two,(f) they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

Footnotes

(a)11:5 Literally transferred or translated

(b)11:5 Genesis 5:24 (see also LXX)

(d)11:18 Genesis 21:12

(e)11:29 Literally made an attempt

(f)11:37 NE, WH, BYZ, and TR include they were put to the test,

(Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

For by this, the elders obtained approval.

By 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.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

(Genesis 1:4–9)

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.

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.

Without 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.

By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,(a) 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.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah

(Genesis 15:1–22; Romans 4:1–12)

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.

By 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.

For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

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.

Therefore 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.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen

(b)

them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

But 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.

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born(c) son,

to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” (d)

concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

(Genesis 27:1–46)

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses

(Exodus 2:1–15; Acts 7:20–22)

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.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,

considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

The Faith of Many

(Joshua 2:1–24)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—

who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,(e)

quenched the power of fire,(f) escaped the edge of the sword,(g) from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

Women received their dead by resurrection.(h) Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.

They were stoned.(i) They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword.(j) They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—

of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise,

God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Footnotes

(a)11:7 or, reverence

(b)11:13 TR adds “and being convinced of”

(c)11:17 The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”.

(d)11:18 ℘ Genesis 21:12

(e)11:33 ℘ Daniel 6:22-23

(f)11:34 ℘ Daniel 3:1-30

(g)11:34 ℘ 1Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31—7:20

(h)11:35 ℘ 1Kings 17:17-23; 2 Kings 4:32-37

(i)11:37 ℘ 2Chronicles 24:20-21

(j)11:37 ℘ Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10