1Now faith is the foundation2204 of things hoped for, certainty about things that cannot be seen. 2By this, people of old obtained approval. 3By faith, we understand that the universe was formed by the word of God, so that what is visible was made from what is invisible.
4By faith, Abel offered to God a sacrifice more excellent than Cain’s, and through this a testimony was given to him that he was righteous. God testified about his gifts, and although Abel is now dead, he still speaks. 5By faith, Enoch was taken away in order not to see death: he was not found because God had translated him. He too had received a testimony that before his translation, he had been well-pleasing to God.
6Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, was moved with godly fear. He prepared a ship to save his household and by this means he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and left the place which he was supposed to receive as his inheritance. He left, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of the promise, as in a land that was not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10Indeed, Abraham looked for the city which has foundations and whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith, even Sarah received power to conceive and she bore a child when she was past the age because she considered that the one who had promised was faithful. 12Therefore, one man became the father to [people] as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the sand on the sea shore, even though he was as good as dead. 13These people all died in faith, [yet] not having received the promises. 2205They had seen and embraced them from afar, and they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims upon the earth. 14Certainly, people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had originally left, they would have had enough time to return. 16But in fact, they desire a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, or ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac [in sacrifice]. Yes, he who had joyfully received the promises was now offering up his uniquely loved2206 son, 18the very one of whom it was said, “In Isaac will your seed be called.”2207 19Abraham concluded that God was even able to raise up the dead and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from the dead. 20By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding future events. 21By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each one of Joseph’s sons and bowed down,2208 leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the exodus of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23By 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. 24By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing to share ill-treatment with God’s people rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time. 26He considered the disgrace of the Anointed2209 greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt because he had his eyes fixed on the reward. 27By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, but he persevered as if seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith, Moses2210 kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on land2211 and when the Egyptians tried to do likewise, they were swallowed up. 30By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after the people [of the city]2212 had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient because she had received the spies in peace. 32What more shall I say? Time would fail me if I mentioned Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33Through faith, they overpowered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,2213 34quenched the power of fire,2214 escaped the edge of the sword,2215 became strong in weakness, grew mighty in war and caused foreign armies to flee. 35Women received their dead by resurrection.2216 Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.2217 36Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, by chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned,2218 they were sawn apart,2219 they were tempted and they were slain with the sword.2220 They went around in sheep and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, and ill-treated. And yet the world was not worthy of them! 38They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth. 39All of them received a testimony through their faith but they did not receive the promise 40because God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfection apart from us.
God as our Father
- Greek u`po,stasij (person/substance/foundation/assurance; literally: what upholds the stability)
- TR adds “being convinced”
- Greek monogenh/
- Genesis 21:12
- Greek proseku,nhsen (or “worshiped”)
- Or “Christ” (Cristou/)
- Greek “he”
- CT reads “dry land” instead of “land”
- Greek “they”
- Daniel 6:22-23
- Daniel 3:1-30
- 1 Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31-7:20
- 1 Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31-7:20; 2 Maccabees 7:29
- 2 Maccabees 7:29; 12:44
- 2 Chronicles 24:20-21
- A reference to Isaias’ (Isaiah’s) martyrdom
- Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
