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論信心

11 信就是對所盼望的事的把握,是還沒有看見的事的明證。 因著這信心,古人得到了稱許。

因著信,我們就明白宇宙(“宇宙”或譯:“諸世界”或“眾世代”)是因著 神的話造成的。這樣,那看得見的就是從那看不見的造出來的。

信心的偉人

因著信,亞伯比該隱獻上更美的祭品給 神;藉著這信心,他被 神稱許為義人,這是 神指著他的禮物所作的見證;他雖然死了,卻藉著信仍然說話。 因著信,以諾被遷去了,使他不至於死,人也找不著他,因為 神把他遷去了。原來在遷去以前,他已經得了 神喜悅他的明證。 沒有信,就不能得到 神的喜悅;因為來到 神面前的人,必須信 神存在,並且信他會賞賜那些尋求他的人。 因著信,挪亞在還沒有看見的事上,得了 神的警告,就動了敬畏的心,做了一艘方舟,使他全家得救。藉著這信心,他就定了那世代的罪,自己也承受了那因信而來的義。

因著信,亞伯拉罕在蒙召的時候,就聽命往他將要承受為業的地方去;他出去的時候,還不知道要往哪裡去。 因著信,他在應許之地寄居,好像是在異鄉,與承受同樣應許的以撒、雅各一樣住在帳棚裡。 10 因為他等待那座有根基的城,就是 神所設計所建造的。 11 因著信,甚至撒拉,她雖然過了生育的年齡,還是能夠懷孕,因為她認為那應許她的是信實的。 12 所以從一個好像已死的人,竟然生出許多子孫來,仿佛天上的星那麼眾多,海邊的沙那麼無數。

13 這些人都是存著信心死了的,還沒有得著所應許的,只不過是從遠處看見,就表示歡迎,又承認他們在世上是異鄉人,是客旅。 14 因為說這樣話的人,是表明他們在尋求一個家鄉。 15 如果他們懷念已經離開了的地方,還有可以回去的機會。 16 但是現在他們所嚮往的,是一個更美的、在天上的家鄉。所以, 神不以他們稱他為 神而覺得羞恥;因為他已經為他們預備了一座城。

17 因著信,亞伯拉罕在受試驗的時候,就把以撒獻上;這就是那歡喜領受應許的人,獻上了自己的獨生子; 18 論到這個兒子,曾經有話說:“以撒生的,才可以稱為你的後裔。” 19 亞伯拉罕認定, 神能使人從死人中復活,因此,就喻意說,他的確從死裡得回他的兒子。 20 因著信,以撒給雅各和以掃祝福,論到將來的事。 21 因著信,雅各臨死的時候,分別為約瑟的兒子祝福,又倚著杖頭敬拜 神。 22 因著信,約瑟臨終的時候,提到以色列子民出埃及的事,並且為自己的骸骨留下遺言。

23 因著信,摩西的父母在摩西生下來以後,因為看見孩子俊美,就把他藏了三個月,不怕王的命令。 24 因著信,摩西長大了以後,就拒絕被稱為法老女兒的兒子。 25 他寧願選擇和 神的子民一同受苦,也不肯享受罪惡中暫時的快樂。 26 在他看來,為著基督受的凌辱,比埃及的財物更寶貴,因為他注視將來的賞賜。 27 因著信,他離開了埃及,不怕王的忿怒;因為他堅定不移,就像看見了人不能看見的 神。 28 因著信,他立了逾越節和灑血的禮,免得那滅命的侵犯以色列人的長子。 29 因著信,他們走過了紅海,好像走過旱地一樣;埃及人也試著要過去,就被淹沒了。 30 因著信,耶利哥的城牆被圍繞了七天,就倒塌了。 31 因著信,妓女喇合和和平平接待了偵察的人,就沒有和那些不順從的人一起滅亡。

32 我還要再說甚麼呢?如果再要述說基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳和眾先知的事,時間就不夠了。 33 他們藉著信,就戰勝了敵國,伸張了正義,得到了應許,堵住了獅子的口, 34 消滅了烈火的威力,逃脫了刀劍的鋒刃,軟弱變成剛強,在戰爭中顯出大能,把外國的軍隊擊退。 35 有些婦女得回從死裡復活的親人;但也有些人忍受了酷刑,不肯接受釋放,為的是要得著更美的復活。 36 又有些人遭受了戲弄、鞭打,甚至捆鎖、監禁; 37 被石頭打死,被鋸鋸死,(後期抄本在此加上“受試探”)被刀殺死。他們披著綿羊山羊的皮到處奔跑、受窮乏、遭患難、被虐待; 38 原是這世界不配有的人。他們飄流無定,在曠野、山嶺、石洞和地穴棲身。

39 所有這些人都藉著信得了稱許,卻還沒有得著所應許的; 40 因為 神已經為我們預備了更美的事,使他們若不跟我們在一起,就不能完全。

人非有信不能得神的喜悅

11 信就是所望之事的實底,是未見之事的確據。 古人在這信上得了美好的證據。 我們因著信,就知道諸世界是藉神話造成的;這樣,所看見的並不是從顯然之物造出來的。 亞伯因著信獻祭於神,比該隱所獻的更美,因此便得了稱義的見證,就是神指他禮物作的見證。他雖然死了,卻因這信仍舊說話。 以諾因著信被接去,不至於見死,人也找不著他,因為神已經把他接去了;只是他被接去以先,已經得了神喜悅他的明證。 人非有信就不能得神的喜悅,因為到神面前來的人必須信有神,且信他賞賜那尋求他的人。 挪亞因著信,既蒙神指示他未見的事,動了敬畏的心,預備了一隻方舟,使他全家得救;因此就定了那世代的罪,自己也承受了那從信而來的義。

盼望有根基之城

亞伯拉罕因著信,蒙召的時候就遵命出去,往將來要得為業的地方去;出去的時候,還不知往哪裡去。 他因著信,就在所應許之地作客,好像在異地居住帳篷,與那同蒙一個應許的以撒雅各一樣。 10 因為他等候那座有根基的城,就是神所經營、所建造的。 11 因著信,連撒拉自己,雖然過了生育的歲數,還能懷孕,因她以為那應許她的是可信的。 12 所以從一個彷彿已死的人就生出子孫,如同天上的星那樣眾多,海邊的沙那樣無數。

13 這些人都是存著信心死的,並沒有得著所應許的,卻從遠處望見,且歡喜迎接,又承認自己在世上是客旅,是寄居的。 14 說這樣話的人,是表明自己要找一個家鄉。 15 他們若想念所離開的家鄉,還有可以回去的機會。 16 他們卻羨慕一個更美的家鄉,就是在天上的。所以神被稱為他們的神,並不以為恥,因為他已經給他們預備了一座城。

信心的試驗

17 亞伯拉罕因著信,被試驗的時候,就把以撒獻上;這便是那歡喜領受應許的,將自己的獨生的兒子獻上。 18 論到這兒子,曾有話說:「從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔。」 19 他以為神還能叫人從死裡復活,他也彷彿從死中得回他的兒子來。

20 以撒因著信,就指著將來的事給雅各以掃祝福。 21 雅各因著信,臨死的時候給約瑟的兩個兒子各自祝福,扶著杖頭敬拜神。 22 約瑟因著信,臨終的時候提到以色列族將來要出埃及,並為自己的骸骨留下遺命。 23 摩西生下來,他的父母見他是個俊美的孩子,就因著信,把他藏了三個月,並不怕王命。

摩西看為基督受凌辱勝於埃及的寶貝

24 摩西因著信,長大了就不肯稱為法老女兒之子。 25 他寧可和神的百姓同受苦害,也不願暫時享受罪中之樂。 26 他看為基督受的凌辱比埃及的財物更寶貴,因他想望所要得的賞賜。 27 他因著信,就離開埃及,不怕王怒;因為他恆心忍耐,如同看見那不能看見的主。 28 他因著信,就守[a]逾越節,行灑血的禮,免得那滅長子的臨近以色列人。

以色列人因信過紅海

29 他們因著信,過紅海如行乾地;埃及人試著要過去,就被吞滅了。 30 以色列人因著信,圍繞耶利哥城七日,城牆就倒塌了。 31 妓女喇合因著信,曾和和平平地接待探子,就不與那些不順從的人一同滅亡。

32 我又何必再說呢?若要一一細說基甸巴拉參孫耶弗他大衛撒母耳和眾先知的事,時候就不夠了。 33 他們因著信,制伏了敵國,行了公義,得了應許,堵了獅子的口, 34 滅了烈火的猛勢,脫了刀劍的鋒刃,軟弱變為剛強,爭戰顯出勇敢,打退外邦的全軍。

被害的信徒因信得了美好的證據

35 有婦人得自己的死人復活。又有人忍受嚴刑,不肯苟且得釋放[b],為要得著更美的復活。 36 又有人忍受戲弄、鞭打、捆鎖、監禁、各等的磨煉, 37 被石頭打死,被鋸鋸死,受試探,被刀殺,披著綿羊、山羊的皮各處奔跑,受窮乏、患難、苦害, 38 在曠野、山嶺、山洞、地穴漂流無定,本是世界不配有的人。 39 這些人都是因信得了美好的證據,卻仍未得著所應許的。 40 因為神給我們預備了更美的事,叫他們若不與我們同得,就不能完全。

Footnotes

  1. 希伯來書 11:28 「守」或作「立」。
  2. 希伯來書 11:35 「釋放」原文作「贖」。

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

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.

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.

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.

But 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.

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.

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.

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:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara 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 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 sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

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

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 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 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

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

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34 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 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 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;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.