By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence (A)of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

By faith we understand that (B)the [c]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History(C)

By faith (D)Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still (E)speaks.

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, (F)“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:1 realization
  2. Hebrews 11:1 Or confidence
  3. Hebrews 11:3 Or ages, Gr. aiones, aeons

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)

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

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(E) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(F) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(G)

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](H) 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 comes to him(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24

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.

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The Heavenly Hope

13 These all died in faith, (A)not having received the (B)promises, but (C)having seen them afar off [a]were assured of them, embraced them and (D)confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things (E)declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind (F)that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed (G)to be called their God, for He has (H)prepared a city for them.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:13 NU, M omit were assured of them

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(A) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(B) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(C) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(D) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(E) Therefore God is not ashamed(F) to be called their God,(G) for he has prepared a city(H) for them.

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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.

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The Faith of Moses(A)

23 By faith (B)Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s (C)command.

24 By faith (D)Moses, when he became of age, 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 [a]passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming (E)the [b]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures [c]in Egypt; for he looked to the (F)reward.

27 By faith (G)he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:25 temporary
  2. Hebrews 11:26 reviling because of
  3. Hebrews 11:26 NU, M of

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(A) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(B)

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(C) 25 He chose to be mistreated(D) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(E) for the sake of Christ(F) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(G) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(H) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

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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.

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32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of (A)Gideon and (B)Barak and (C)Samson and (D)Jephthah, also of (E)David and (F)Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, (G)stopped the mouths of lions, 34 (H)quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 (I)Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were (J)tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and (K)of chains and imprisonment. 37 (L)They were stoned, they were sawn in two, [a]were tempted, were slain with the sword. (M)They wandered about (N)in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, (O)in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, (P)having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be (Q)made perfect apart from us.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:37 NU omits were tempted

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(A) Barak,(B) Samson(C) and Jephthah,(D) about David(E) and Samuel(F) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(G) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(H) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(I) and escaped the edge of the sword;(J) whose weakness was turned to strength;(K) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(L) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(M) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(N) and even chains and imprisonment.(O) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a](P) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(Q) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(R) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(S) and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended(T) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(U) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(V) would they be made perfect.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;

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.

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