Faith is Being Sure
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3Through 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.
The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah
4By 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. 5By 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. 6But 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. 7By 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.
The Faith of Abraham
(Genesis 15:1-7; Romans 4:1-12; Galatians 3:1-9; James 2:14-26)
8By 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. 9By 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: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11Through 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. 12Therefore 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.
13These 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. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But 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.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
The Faith of Moses
23By 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. 24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
The Faith of Many
(Joshua 2:1-14)
31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32And 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: 33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched 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. 35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They 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.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Faith and Assurance
(Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2 For by this, the elders obtained testimony.
3 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 4–9)
4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, 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 15–22; Romans 4:1–12)
8 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. 9 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. 10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 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. 12 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.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16 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.
17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son; 18 even he to whom it was said, “In Isaac will your seed be called;” 19 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 27–50)
20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. 21 By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 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 2–15; Acts 7:20–22)
23 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. 24 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; 26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29 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–Malachi)
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets; 33 who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
39 These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn’t receive the promise, 40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Faith and Assurance
(Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)
1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2 This is why the ancients were commended.
3 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 4–9)
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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 15–22; Romans 4:1–12)
8 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. 9 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. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 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. 12 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.
13 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.
14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 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.
17 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 18 even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” d 19 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 27–50)
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 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 2–15; Acts 7:20–22)
23 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.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. 26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. 28 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.
29 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–Malachi)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 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.
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 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. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 40 God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
Footnotes:
5 a Literally transferred or translated
5 b Genesis 5:24 (see also LXX)
17 c Or only begotten son or unique son
18 d Genesis 21:12
29 e Literally made an attempt
37 f NE, WH, BYZ, and TR include they were put to the test,
Faith is Being Sure
1And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction, 2for in this were the elders testified of;
3by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing;
The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah
4by faith a better sacrifice did Abel offer to God than Cain, through which he was testified to be righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it, he being dead, doth yet speak. 5By faith Enoch was translated -- not to see death, and was not found, because God did translate him; for before his translation he had been testified to -- that he had pleased God well, 6and apart from faith it is impossible to please well, for it behoveth him who is coming to God to believe that He is, and to those seeking Him He becometh a rewarder. 7By faith Noah, having been divinely warned concerning the things not yet seen, having feared, did prepare an ark to the salvation of his house, through which he did condemn the world, and of the righteousness according to faith he became heir.
The Faith of Abraham
(Genesis 15:1-7; Romans 4:1-12; Galatians 3:1-9; James 2:14-26)
8By faith Abraham, being called, did obey, to go forth to the place that he was about to receive for an inheritance, and he went forth, not knowing whither he doth go; 9by faith he did sojourn in the land of the promise as a strange country, in tabernacles having dwelt with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise, 10for he was looking for the city having the foundations, whose artificer and constructor is God. 11By faith also Sarah herself did receive power to conceive seed, and she bare after the time of life, seeing she did judge Him faithful who did promise; 12wherefore, also from one were begotten -- and that of one who had become dead -- as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as sand that is by the sea-shore -- the innumerable.
13In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted them, and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth, 14for those saying such things make manifest that they seek a country; 15and if, indeed, they had been mindful of that from which they came forth, they might have had an opportunity to return, 16but now they long for a better, that is, an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for He did prepare for them a city.
17By faith Abraham hath offered up Isaac, being tried, and the only begotten he did offer up who did receive the promises, 18of whom it was said -- 'In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;' 19reckoning that even out of the dead God is able to raise up, whence also in a figure he did receive him.
The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
20By faith, concerning coming things, Isaac did bless Jacob and Esau; 21by faith Jacob dying -- each of the sons of Joseph did bless, and did bow down upon the top of his staff; 22by faith, Joseph dying, concerning the outgoing of the sons of Israel did make mention, and concerning his bones did give command.
The Faith of Moses
23By faith Moses, having been born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child comely, and were not afraid of the decree of the king; 24by faith Moses, having become great, did refuse to be called a son of the daughter of Pharaoh, 25having chosen rather to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have sin's pleasure for a season, 26greater wealth having reckoned the reproach of the Christ than the treasures in Egypt, for he did look to the recompense of reward; 27by faith he left Egypt behind, not having been afraid of the wrath of the king, for, as seeing the Invisible One -- he endured; 28by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that He who is destroying the first-born might not touch them. 29By faith they did pass through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians having received a trial of, were swallowed up;
30by faith the walls of Jericho did fall, having been surrounded for seven days;
The Faith of Many
(Joshua 2:1-14)
31by faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who disbelieved, having received the spies with peace.
32And what shall I yet say? for the time will fail me recounting about Gideon, Barak also, and Samson, and Jephthah, David also, and Samuel, and the prophets, 33who through faith did subdue kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made powerful out of infirmities, became strong in battle, caused to give way camps of the aliens. 35Women received by a rising again their dead, and others were tortured, not accepting the redemption, that a better rising again they might receive, 36and others of mockings and scourgings did receive trial, and yet of bonds and imprisonment; 37they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tried; in the killing of the sword they died; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins -- being destitute, afflicted, injuriously treated, 38of whom the world was not worthy; in deserts wandering, and in mountains, and in caves, and in the holes of the earth;
39and these all, having been testified to through the faith, did not receive the promise, 40God for us something better having provided, that apart from us they might not be made perfect.
The Favor of God Paraphrase
Faith: The Foundation of Life’s Greatest Journey
¹ Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It’s not wishful thinking, but the confident assurance of what we are expecting, and the conviction of realities we cannot yet grasp with our senses. ² Through this kind of faith, people in the past were recognized and commended by God.
Creation Came Through Faith
³ By faith, we understand that the universe was framed by God’s command. Everything we see now came from what is invisible—it was spoken into existence by His powerful Word.
Examples of Faith
⁴ By faith, Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain. Through his faith, God accepted his offering, and even though Abel is long gone, his faith still speaks to us today. ⁵ By faith, Enoch was taken up to heaven without experiencing death—he simply disappeared because God took him. Before he was taken, he was known to be someone who pleased God. ⁶ Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
Noah’s Faith Saved His Family
⁷ By faith, Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, built an ark to save his family. His obedience, rooted in faith, condemned the world around him, and he became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Abraham’s Faith Launched a Nation
⁸ By faith, Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave his home and go to a land he would later receive as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith, he lived like a stranger in the promised land, dwelling in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were co-heirs of the same promise. ¹⁰ For Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
¹¹ By faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to conceive because she considered God faithful to His promise. ¹² And so from this one man, Abraham, who was as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
The Hope Beyond This World
¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They didn’t receive the full realization of what was promised; they only saw it from a distance and welcomed it. They acknowledged that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 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 the opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they longed 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.
Abraham’s Ultimate Test
¹⁷ By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph’s Faith
²⁰ By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. ²¹ By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. ²² By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
Moses’ Faith Led the People to Freedom
²³ By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born because they saw that he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. ²⁴ By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ²⁷ By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith, he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the Israelites.
Faith Conquered, Faith Persevered
²⁹ By faith, the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. ³⁰ By faith, the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. ³¹ By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
The Heroes of Faith
³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength, and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. ³⁵ Women received back their dead, raised to life again. 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, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated—³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground.
The Fulfillment of Faith
³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Footnotes:
1.“Substance of things hoped for” (verse 1) refers to the tangible foundation faith provides for our hopes, even when unseen.
2.“Abel’s offering” (verse 4) symbolizes the heart of faith—offering the best and trusting God, unlike Cain’s offering which lacked faith.
3.“Enoch taken” (verse 5) highlights how faith leads to intimacy with God, even beyond death.
4.“Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ” (verse 26) reflects that even in ancient times, faith looked forward to the Messiah’s ultimate redemption.
5.“Heroes of faith” (verse 32) recounts key figures whose lives of faith shaped the course of God’s story with humanity.
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