11NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see {and} the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].G1161G4102G2076G5287G1679G1650G4229G3756G9912For by [faith--trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them {and} obtained a good report.G1063G1722G5026G4245G31403By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.G4102G3539G165G2675G4487G2316G1519G3588G991G1096G3361G1096G1537G53164[Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting {and} acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.G4102G6G4374G2316G4119G2378G3844G2535G1223G3739G3140G1511G1342G2316G3140G1909G846G1435G2532G1223G846G599G2089G2980G29805Because of faith Enoch was caught up {and} transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased {and} been satisfactory to God.G4102G1802G3346G1492G3361G1492G2288G2532G2147G3756G2147G1360G2316G3346G846G1063G4253G846G3331G3140G2100G23166But without faith it is impossible to please {and} be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly {and} diligently seek Him [out].G1161G5565G4102G102G2100G1063G4334G2316G1163G4100G3754G2076G2532G1096G3406G1567G8467[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed {and} diligently {and} reverently constructed {and} prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment {and} sentence on the world's unbelief and became an heir {and} possessor of righteousness (that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).G4102G3575G5537G4012G3369G991G3369G2125G2680G2787G1519G4991G846G3624G1223G3739G2632G2889G2532G1096G2818G1343G2596G41028[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know {or} trouble his mind about where he was to go.G4102G11G2564G1831G1519G5117G3739G3195G2983G1519G2817G5219G2532G1831G3361G1987G4226G20649[Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.G4102G3939G1519G1093G1860G5613G245G2730G1722G4633G3326G2464G2532G2384G4789G846G186010For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has fixed {and} firm foundations, whose Architect {and} Builder is God.G1063G1551G4172G2192G2310G3739G5079G2532G1217G231611Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable {and} trustworthy {and} true to His word.G4102G2532G4564G846G2983G1411G1519G2602G4690G2532G5088G3844G2540G2244G1893G2233G4103G186112So from one man, though he was physically as good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose number is as the stars of heaven and as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore.G1352G1080G2532G575G1520G2532G5023G3499G2531G798G3772G4128G2532G5616G285G3588G3844G2281G5491G38213These people all died controlled {and} sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God's] promises, only having seen it {and} greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging {and} confessing that they were strangers {and} temporary residents {and} exiles upon the earth.G3778G3956G599G2596G4102G3361G2983G1860G235G1492G846G4207G2532G3982G2532G782G2532G3670G3754G1526G3581G2532G3927G1909G109314Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country).G1063G3004G5108G1718G3754G1934G396815If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it.G2532G3303G1487G3421G1565G575G3739G1831G302G2192G2540G34416But the truth is that they were yearning for {and} aspiring to a better {and} more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for He has prepared a city for them.G1161G3570G3713G2909G5123G2032G1352G2316G1870G3756G1870G846G1941G846G2316G1063G2090G846G417217By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test [while the testing of his faith was still in progress], had already brought Isaac for an offering; he who had gladly received {and} welcomed [God's] promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,G4102G11G3985G4374G2464G2532G324G1860G4374G343918Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned.G4314G3739G2980G3754G1722G2464G2564G4671G4690G256419For he reasoned that God was able to raise [him] up even from among the dead. Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead [potentially sacrificed], he did [actually] receive him back from the dead.G3049G3754G2316G1415G1453G2532G1537G3498G3606G2532G2865G846G1722G385020[With eyes of] faith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau.G4102G2464G2127G2384G2532G2269G4012G319521[Prompted] by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in prayer over the top of his staff.G4102G2384G599G2127G1538G5207G2501G2532G4352G1909G206G846G446422[Actuated] by faith Joseph, when nearing the end of his life, referred to [the promise of God for] the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his own bones.G4102G2501G5053G3421G4012G1841G5207G2474G2532G1781G4012G846G374723[Prompted] by faith Moses, after his birth, was kept concealed for three months by his parents, because they saw how comely the child was; and they were not overawed {and} terrified by the king's decree.G4102G3475G1080G2928G5150G5259G846G3962G1360G1492G791G3813G2532G5399G3756G5399G935G129724[Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity {and} become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,G4102G3475G1096G3173G720G3004G5207G5328G236425Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] {and} bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life.G138G3123G4778G2992G2316G2228G2192G619G266G434026He considered the contempt {and} abuse {and} shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward {and} away to the reward (recompense).G2233G3680G5547G3187G4149G2233G2344G1722G125G1063G578G1519G340527[Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed {and} undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched {but} held staunchly to his purpose {and} endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.G4102G2641G125G3361G5399G2372G935G1063G2594G5613G3708G51728By faith (simple trust and confidence in God) he instituted {and} carried out the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts], so that the destroyer of the firstborn (the angel) might not touch those [of the children of Israel].G4102G4160G3957G2532G4378G129G3363G3645G4416G2345G84629[Urged on] by faith the people crossed the Red Sea as [though] on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing they were swallowed up [by the sea].G4102G1224G2063G2281G5613G1223G3584G3739G124G3984G2983G266630Because of faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed for seven days [by the Israelites].G4102G5038G2410G4098G2944G1909G2033G225031[Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe {and} obey, because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity].G4102G4204G4460G4881G3756G544G1209G2685G3326G151532And what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,G2532G5101G3004G2089G3004G1063G5550G1952G3165G1334G4012G1066G5037G913G2532G4546G2532G2422G1138G2532G5037G4545G2532G439633Who by [the help of] faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,G3739G1223G4102G2610G932G2038G1343G2013G1860G5420G4750G302334Extinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty {and} weakness won strength {and} became stalwart, even mighty {and} resistless in battle, routing alien hosts.G4570G1411G4442G5343G4750G3162G575G769G1743G1096G2478G1722G4171G2827G3925G24535[Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. [I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:25-37.]G1135G2983G846G3498G1537G386G1161G243G5178G3756G4327G629G2443G5177G2909G38636Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment.G1161G2087G2983G3984G1701G2532G3148G1161G2089G1199G2532G543837They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated--G3034G4249G3985G599G1722G5408G3162G4022G1722G3374G1722G122G1192G5302G2346G255838[Men] of whom the world was not worthy--roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves {and} caverns and holes of the earth.G3739G2889G2258G3756G514G4105G1722G2047G2532G3735G2532G4693G2532G3692G109339And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,G2532G3778G3956G3140G1223G4102G2865G3756G186040Because God had us in mind {and} had something better {and} greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].G2316G4265G5100G2909G5100G4012G2257G3363G5048G5565G2257G5048G3363G5048
Unknown
