³² And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,^(A) David, Samuel, and the prophets,^{(B) 33} who by faith conquered kingdoms,^(C) administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,^{(D) 34} quenched 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.^{(E) 35} Women received their dead—they were raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, ³⁶ and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.^{(F) 37} They were stoned,^[a](G) they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins,^(H) 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.^(I)

The Call to Endurance

12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses^(J) surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance^(K) the race that lies before us, ² keeping our eyes on Jesus,^[b] the source and perfecter^[c] of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him^[d] endured a cross and despised the shame^(L) and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

Fatherly Discipline

³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.^(M)

³⁴ Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.^{(A) 35} For I came to turn

³⁷ The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;^(C) the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow^[b] Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ Anyone finding^[c] his life will lose it,^(D) and anyone losing^[d] his life because of Me will find it.^(E)

¹⁷ But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ,^(A) is Christ then a promoter^[a](B) of sin? Absolutely not!^{(C) 18} If I rebuild^(D) the system^[b] I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.^{(E) 19} For through the law I have died to the law,^(F) so that I might live for God.^(G) I have been crucified with Christ^{[c] 20} and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(H) The life I now live in the body,^[d] I live by faith in the Son of God,^(I) who loved^(J) me^(K) and gave Himself^(L) for me.^{(M) 21} I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law,^(N) then Christ died^(O) for nothing.

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead^(A) in your trespasses and sins

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(A) because of His great love^(B) that He had for us,^{[a] 5} made us alive^(C) with the Messiah even though we were dead^(D) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens,^{(E) 7} so that in the coming ages^(F) He might display the immeasurable riches^(G) of His grace through His kindness^(H) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(I) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast.