Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen. For by it the people of old received their
commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created
by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things
that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than
Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending
him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died,
he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not
see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now
before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And
without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would
draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards
those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning
events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the
saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became
an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place
that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not
knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of
promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking
forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and
builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive,
even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful
who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead,
were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as
the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised,
but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having
acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For
people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a
homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they
had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it
is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has
prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he
who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his
only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring
be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from
the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him
back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By
faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing
in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end
of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave
directions concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by
his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and
they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he
was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to
enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of
Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was
looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of
the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is
invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood,
so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the
Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By
faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled
for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with
those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly
welcome to the spies.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the
prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power
of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of
weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women
received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured,
refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a
better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains
and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they
were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and
goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not
worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and
caves of the earth.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not
receive what was promised, since God had provided something better
for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
